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Mugabe held prisoner by G40: Mutsvangwa

Politics
A FACTION of the ruling party led by First Lady Grace Mugabe, known as Generation-40 (G40), wants to “frighten” President Robert Mugabe out of his intended meeting with veterans of the liberation struggle, former War Veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa claimed yesterday.

A FACTION of the ruling party led by First Lady Grace Mugabe, known as Generation-40 (G40), wants to “frighten” President Robert Mugabe out of his intended meeting with veterans of the liberation struggle, former War Veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa claimed yesterday.

BY RICHARD CHIDZA

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The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) leader’s claim came as it emerged that his predecessor Jabulani Sibanda had indeed been offered a ministerial position as bait to rejoin Zanu PF.

Mutsvangwa, who lost his Cabinet position two weeks ago in the aftermath of his three-year suspension from Zanu PF for allegedly undermining Mugabe, called on his party tormentors to “leave me alone”.

“G40 wants to frighten HE (His Excellency) the patron out of meeting his fellow war veterans. They are now holding him prisoner away from his own life,” Mutsvangwa said.

Along with his wife Monica, Mutsvangwa was cut loose as part of the latest purge of party leaders perceived to be aligned to another faction reportedly led by Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in a move he claimed was forced through by G40.

The former Cabinet minister seemed to hint he was on his way out of the ruling party.

“I thought where I go politically should now be the least of their worries. Why should they break their celebration party to concern themselves with party-forsaken Mutsvangwa? This is the clearest indication of their insecurity in a party they would want to steal from its historical and proper owners in broad daylight,” he said.

Mutsvangwa added that Sibanda had indeed been offered a ministerial position as bait to rejoin Zanu PF.

“Shamed, the pot now wants to call the kettle black. Hell hath no fury like a politician scorned,” Mutsvangwa said.

Sibanda would neither confirm nor deny the claims.

“I am not a member of Zanu PF and would not want to be dragged into their fights. Let them fight and when they are done, I can comment,” Sibanda retorted when pressed for comment yesterday.

As brickbats continue to fly in the ongoing scrap for Mugabe’s “throne”, Mutsvangwa accused Bulawayo Provincial Affairs minister Eunice Sandi-Moyo of being a “parrot”.

“Let her take over from where I supposedly failed and do something for women ex-combatants and widows of war veterans who are wallowing in abject poverty. Sandi-Moyo was appointed to rescue Bulawayo’s economic fortunes, not to repeat by rot recitals from a vapid and vacuous professor,” Mutsvangwa said.