Former Vice President Joice Mujuru, who this week released a manifesto to transform Zimbabwe’s declining economy, has been warned to prepare for a grueling fight with Zanu PF.
Andrew Chagonda of the Movement for Democratic Change-USA provincial executive says while they are happy about Mrs. Mujuru’s move to fight against her former mentor, President Mugabe, it is just a matter of time before she is accused of being a puppet of the West by the ruling party.
Chagonda told VOA Studio 7 that Mrs. Mujuru should brace for a bruising battle with her former handlers, who have in the past claimed that the MDC-T is a puppet of the West.
“Anyone who supports democracy is branded a puppet of the West. To (Mrs) Mujuru we say welcome to what we have been told before now that you are calling your party national democrats,” he said.
He dismissed suggestions by critics that the emergence of the former vice president from the political wilderness is likely to devastate the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai.
“This is a very erroneous assumption that people are making. The MDC has been around since 1999. Political parties have come and gone and so the coming of (Mrs) Mujuru on the political landscape welcome as it is does not pose any threat at all to the MDC.
“People must be disabused of this idea that (Mrs) Mujuru will be a major force that will distract the membership of the MDC from supporting the MDC and their leader Morgan Tsvangirai,” said Chaponda.
Zanu PF chairman Simon Khaya Moyo declined to comment.
The former vice president was expelled from Zanu PF for allegedly teaming up with some then top party officials and war veterans last December to unseat veteran leader President Robert Mugabe.
She dismissed the allegations as far-fetched and meant to remove her from power.
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Interview with Andrew Chagonda, MDC-USA Provincial Executive