Mugabe’s deputy under fire over perceived ambition

President Robert Mugabe has told
Zimbabweans that his deputy, Joice Mujuru
was wooing Western powers in her desperate
bid to remove him from power.
"I fight an election and I'm expected to bow
to my deputy and say I won an election, you
take over. That was their expectation, foolish
and idiotic," Mugabe said to cheers from the
240-member central committee.
"Mujuru was hoping the West would pour
billions into Zimbabwe after she took over.
Where have they poured billions in a country
with no Mugabe? Be content where you are,"
he said.
Mugabe said party members were allowed to
contest for top posts but should not do it
through illegal means.
After his comments on Wednesday, it is
unlikely he will retain Mujuru as his deputy
and this may open the door for Justice
Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, her long-
time rival.
Mujuru, who leads a ZANU-PF group that is
viewed as moderate and pro-business, has
denied plotting against Mugabe, 90, who has
ruled the southern African country since
independence from Britain in 1980.
Mugabe's wife Grace and state-owned media
have also accused the embattled deputy
President of corruption and plotting to kill
Mugabe in what analysts say is a smear
campaign.
Last Wednesday, Mugabe specifically told a
meeting of his party's central committee,
which Mujuru did not attend, that she wanted
him to step down only a year after he
resoundingly won re-election. The opposition
has said that vote was fraudulent.

Posted By David Aniemeka