December 03 - 10, 2014

Media Monitoring Report for Zimbabwe

Posted on December 3, 2014

Compiled by – Mike Taylor – MIGS desk officer for Zimbabwe

Southern Eye, December 6, 2014
“Mujuru, allies face arrest”, by Paidamoyo Muzulu

President Mugabe said all ministers and top civil servants implicated in corruption risked prosecution and dismissal once evidence is gathered.
The remarks were made at the opening of the Zanu PF congress in Harare.
The remark was directed at Joice Mujuru and her faction.
Mugabe noted that Mujuru and Secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa were behaving like thieves by not attending the congress.
Mugabe proceeded to apologize for the behaviour of certain top officials in the party.

Daily News, December 5, 2014
“Mugabe threatens Mujuru with arrest”, by Chengetai Zvauya and Mugove Tafirenyika

Robert Mugabe branded VP Joice Mujuru a coward and a thief, too scared to attend the Zanu PF’s congress in Harare.
He warned that the arrest of Mujuru and her supporters was possible if concrete evidence in their plot to overthrow him is brought forward.
Mugabe said that he would rid the party of its “rotten elements” implying Mujuru and her faction.
Mugabe proceeded to call on the police to investigate all ministers implicated in the plot allegations.

The Hearld, December 5, 2014
“Mujuru faces jail: President”, by Takunda Maodza

If allegations of corruption and abuse of office are proved, Vice President Joice Mujuru and her “accomplices” will be prosecuted according to Robert Mugabe.
Mugabe noted that the fact that Mujuru and her factional allies did not attend the Zanu PF congress in Harare indicated that they were behaving like thieves.
Mujuru’s ethically questionable dealings were “exposed” by First Lady Grace Mugabe and covered extensively by the Zimpapers group.
Mujuru is also accused of having covertly supported MDC-T in past elections.

Daily News, December 7, 2014
“Mujuru falls”, by Lloyd Mbiba, Mugove Tafirenyika and Chengetai Zvauya

Robert Mugabe has not named a successor and has postponed the naming of new Politburo members.
Mugabe indicated several times that there was no rush to name the members to their positions.
Mugabe also made it clear that he had no intention of stepping down from the post of President which he has held since independence in 1980. He indicated that he would stay in the position “as long as I am still sane.
Joice Mujuru on the other hand, was not named to the central committee. This indicates that she will soon be out of her position as Vice President.
Several other cabinet ministers were also missing from the roll call. They were all aligned to Mujuru and implicated in one plot or another.
During the congress, in which all spots in the cabinet and various other posts were to have been filled, only Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace were named to their respective posts in the government.

Daily News, December 10, 2014
“Mujuru, 8 ministers fired”, by Fungi Kwaramba and Lloyd Mbiba

Robert Mugabe has fired the Vice President, Joice Mujuru and eight other ministers. This move was expected. • Also fired are: Didymus Mutasa, Webster Shamu, Nicholas Goche, Simbarashe Mudarikwa, Francis Nhema, Olivia Muchena, Dzikamai Mavhaire and Minacho Mutezo.
Three ministers implicated in factionalism managed to escape the purge.
Mujuru remarked that she would not voluntarily give up her Zanu PF party membership.
Daily News political analysts have predicted that the purge will lead to more instability in the government and by extension Zimbabwe.

The Herald, December 6, 2014
“MDC-T confirms Mujuru alliance”

MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu admitted by mistake that his party will work with the Mujuru faction in the future.
The Herald notes that reports had already surfaced that Mujuru has met with MDC-T officials with the goal of forming a coalition before elections in 2018.
Gutu said that in a post-Mugabe context, the MDC-T would be willing to work with members of the former Zanu PF.
Gutu’s statement was cut short by a Zanu PF official who interrupted, and denigrated MDC-T and Mujuru.

The Sunday Mail, December 7, 2014
“VP Mujuru booted out”, by Levi Mukarati and Farirai Machivenyika

Robert Mugabe indicated that Mujuru’s absence from the Zanu PF congress had reduced her to a regular member of the party. She has been ‘booted out’ as the party’s Vice President and Second Secretary.
The Sunday Mail noted that ‘sources’ indicated that Mugabe wanted to accommodate Mujuru with a position of less influence but her absence was taken as a sign of insolence.
Mujuru and her faction were not expelled from the Zanu PF, but were advised to engage in some introspection instead.

The Sunday Mail, December 7, 2014
“Failed leaders face expulsion”, by Ndudzo Tshuma

Emmerson Mnangagwa tabled an amendment for the Zanu PF constitution at the party congress in Harare; it was adopted. It stipulated that votes of no-confidence mean an automatic expulsion from the party for a period of five years.
For a vote of no confidence to take effect, a petition must detail any “incompetence or dereliction of duty, gross misconduct and disloyalty or treachery.
The amendments reduced the Politburo to 26 members.

The Herald, December 6, 2014
“Zanu PF urged to embrace plotters”, by Lloyd Gumbo

Zanu PF should “embrace repentant party cadres” formerly aligned to Joice Mujuru, said National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda.
Mudenda proceeded to espouse the party line when he said that factionalism would have no place in the Zanu PF after the sixth party congress in Harare this week.
He also managed to single out Mujuru by tying her to the plot to overthrow Mugabe.

The Herald, December 10, 2014
“VP Mujuru, 8 ministers fired”, by Lloyd Gumbo and Tendai Mugabe

Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda announced that Vice President Joice Mujuru has been fired along with eight other ministers.
The VP and ministers are accused of “reneging on their Government mandate by expending their energy and time on alleged graft and factional politics where they sought to topple President Robert Mugabe through unprecedented means, including assassination.”
One of the ministers, Eng Mutezo, allegedly blamed the Herald for his being fired.

Montreal Institute for Genocide and
Human Rights Studies