Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu PF party threatens to sue anyone who will use it’s name amid reports that a faction of the party led by former Vice President Joice Mujuru is planning to launch party to be known as Zanu People First.
Party stalwart, Paul Mangwana, says it is illegal for expelled party members to have a party with a name that is similar to Zanu PF.
Disgruntled Zanu PF members, including Mrs. Mujuru, were kicked out of the party before the party’s congress last December.
Mangwana says this means that they are no longer part of Zanu PF and therefore should not align themselves in whatever way with President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party.
Rugare Gumbo, who normally speaks on behalf of the expelled Zanu PF members, was not available for comment. Gumbo, Mrs. Mujuru, war veteran Jabulani Sibanda, former Presidential Minister Didymus Mutasa and several others, were accused of allegedly trying to topple President Mugabe.
They have denied these allegations saying they were machinations of a faction of the party led by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, which wanted to have total control of Zanu PF before the congress.