‘If Mujuru Didn’t Gossip About Me, I would Be Silent Over Her Grand Corruption & Conspiracy’-Grace

GRACE Mugabe has opened up about her fight with former vice president Joice Mujuru, revealing that she would have kept mum about the latter’s alleged grand corruption and conspiracy if the VP had not gossiped about the First Lady.

President Robert Mugabe’s wife also tells the Sunday Mail, in an interview marking her 50th birthday, that Mujuru was on course to take over from the aged and ailing veteran leader until she rejected advice – Grace’s advice.

Mujuru was eventually fired as State and Zanu PF vice president after being accused of gross incompetence, plotting to “illegally” depose or assassinate President Mugabe as well as engaging in grand corruption.

Grace led the charge, and was later supported by her husband although Mujuru, who denies the allegations, has still not been prosecuted over the alleged treason and corruption.

After being nominated to take over as Zanu PF’s women’s league chair last year, Grace embarked on a nationwide “meet-the-people” tour where she initially talked about bread and butter issues, lambasting the police for harassing vendors and demanding that the ruling party addresses the country’s economic crisis.

But all of a sudden she turned her fangs on Mujuru who as then seen as effectively president in waiting, having shellacked long-term rival Emmerson Mnangagwa in internal party polls and taken control of most party structures.

In an interview with the government-owned Sunday Mail, Grace explained why she targeted the then vice president.

Interestingly too, she reveals that although they were aware of her alleged corrupt activities and conspiring to depose Mugabe, Mujuru would have been left well alone had she not annoyed the First Lady.

“When we used to hear a lot of things that were taking place in terms of the former Vice-President (Mujuru), we behaved like adults,” Grace told the Mail.

“We did not want to say because she is doing this, we will also go public and talk about these things as we did not think that was the best way to solve problems in the party.

“The one thing I did not like was that as I was going on the tour last year – the Meet the People Tour – they put together a group of boys, gave them money, bought them beer, got them drunk and sent them to boo me when I was addressing; making noise, beating drums, shouting and I endured that.

“In almost all the provinces, it was like that at every rally. It was happening, but I later said enough was enough. You cannot continue to do this to me. I have been very quiet for a very long time.

She continued: “Things have been said, written and gossiped about me. I said enough was enough; if you actually want now to translate it into public fight, let’s go for it.

“I also have a mouth to talk, I have a brain to think. So, I said this should stop forthwith (laughs). That’s why people talk about “Stop it!” (laughs) because they were dividing the party.”

Grace also concedes that Mujuru was effectively President-in-waiting but claims she destroyed her prospects by rejecting advice, presumably the First Lady’s.

“I’m telling you; she had an opportunity, a very good opportunity if she had kept her cool and listened to the advice of others,” said the First Lady.

“She would be somewhere today. But she decided to do things the wrong way and she has herself to blame – unfortunately.

“She did not want to take advice from me. I sent people to talk to her, but she thought I was foolish, or I wanted to stop her ambitions.”

Grace adds: “I loved her so much, I tell you. She disappointed me.

“I liked her so much. She knew that I liked her, but she was very elusive in her ways. She didn’t even want to communicate with me.”

Mugabe’s wife insisted she was not interested in succeeding her husband, blaming the speculation on those interested in the job but scared of her.

“I know some detractors are writing about it; that Mugabe is grooming his wife to become the President after he retires, and it will never stop because there are people who think they are the ones to take over out there,” she said.

“And they think that if Mugabe is really grooming his wife, we must ensure we pull her down and this is what has been happening.

“Hence, all these stories that are being written in the newspapers; that she can’t do it and she can do it – whatever they write.”

She added: “I am not interested in politics. I am just there for the women’s issues; I am just one of the voices.

“I have never – in any way, in any place, at any time – said I would want to be the President of this country.” source-newzimbabwe

photo -‘Fighting doctors’ … Grace and Mujuru after gaduating at the University of Zimbabwe