Vice-President Joice Mujuru has all, but quit her government post amid reports that she has removed all personal property and documents from her Munhumutapa office as pressure mounts for her to resign.
This comes amid reports that there would be a major shake-up in government and security sectors soon after the congress to flush out individuals who were allegedly backing Mujuru to ‘topple’ President Robert Mugabe.
Among those expected to be kicked out of government would be permanent secretaries and security chiefs, some accused of leaking sensitive issues to aid Mujuru’s ascendency to power.
Mujuru is under fire from Zanu PF organs and war veterans for allegedly plotting to topple and replace President Robert Mugabe.
The Zanu PF second in command, party secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa, secretary for transport Nicholas Goche and suspended information chief Rugare Gumbo, among others, stand accused of plottingto kill President Mugabe.
Mujuru and Goche have since failed to submit their CVs for central committee elections, while party bigwigs linked to them lost the polls – leaving them virtually powerless ahead of the party’s elective congress next week.
Sources close to Mujuru, who boycotted Zanu PF’s politburo meeting on Wednesday, said the vice-president had accepted her fate and was seriously considering quitting given the political developments of the past three months.
“She has gone through a lot, the bashing from the First Lady, the humiliation she faced when she wanted to submit her CV, the continued negative reports in the state media and the harassment of people perceived to be loyal to her,” one of the sources said. “She has moved out her personal property and documents from her offices. “It is the end game. She can’t continue to endure the humiliation anymore.”
The vice-president’s fate would likely to be sealed at the congress, with President Mugabe now empowered to appoint his two deputies, the national chairperson and all politburo members.
Apart from Mujuru being thrown out, sources said the purge would be extended to government institutions, among them, the Central Intelligence Organisation where deputy director general Daniel Tonde Nhepera is expected to be booted out. Nhepera allegedly worked closely with Mujuru and they reportedly come from the same rural areas. More changes are also envisaged in the CIO.
Permanent secretaries, some of them who were deployed from the President’s Office, but worked closely with Mujuru would be thrown out. Some of the permanent secretaries were accused of undermining the ministers they were working under to advance Mujuru’s cause.
Heads would also roll in the Public Service Commission where its head Mariyiwanda Nzuwa was linked to the Mujuru faction. Several parastatal heads will also be fired, the sources said.
A shakeup is also expected at the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
In the office of the president, the deputy secretary to cabinet and president Christian Katsande is also targeted as he allegedly worked with Mujuru and helped her raise her portfolio. “She thought she was now in command and most people were lining to her office and security matters were now being sent to her by some top security chefs who were supposed to be reporting to the president only,” another source added.
Besides the civil servants being axed, cabinet ministers and some legislators are also under fire for allegedly working with Mujuru. –
Source: The Zim Mail
