First Lady Grace Mugabe, now arguably the most powerful person in Zanu PF, stunned hundreds of supporters at a rally in Zvimba on Thursday when she declared that no-one in the ruling party can stop her from doing what she wants.
Described by some anonymous Zanu PF seniors in the media recently as being divisive, Mrs. Mugabe said she did not care about those who revile her, and threatened people will be sacked from the ruling party once she blows the whistle.
Speaking at Murombedzi Growth Point in Zvimba, Mashonaland West province, the first lady, who was in a combative mood, said she can participate at all levels in Zanu PF just like any member of the party even though she has no war credentials.
The Zanu PF Women’s League boss said some people in Zanu PF make the mistake of thinking that President Robert Mugabe can stop her in her tirades against perceived enemies wanting to remove her husband from office.
“When I went around the country late last year denouncing the demon of factionalism some members in the party thought I was joking and the President (Mugabe) would instruct me to shut up but alas he didn't. He kept quite … and as an independent mature woman I spoke my mind because Zanu PF is my party and I can participate in its affairs no one can stop me. Yes you went to war but I’m equally Zanu PF even if I didn’t go to war.”
Mrs. Mugabe has said that she does not want to lead Zimbabwe once her husband leaves office but the party’s Women's National Secretary for Finance, Sarah Mahoka, led slogans today as master of ceremonies for the rally, rebuking those she said did not want Grace Mugabe to rule Zimbabwe.
Mrs. Mugabe, who spoke for more than an hour, boasted about how she engineered former Vice President Joyce Mujuru’s demise, adding she will “blowing the whistle for those who are offside in the party”.
“Mai (Mrs.) Mujuru didn't like my ascendency as the women's boss as she organised people to heckle me at my rallies but I warned her and she didn't listen until I said enough is enough and whistled her offside and she was ejected from the party.”
She warned journalist to shun bribes saying some media personalities were being bought to tarnish her name.
The first lady said she is aware that one media house was paid $2 million to publish negative reports about her.
Mrs. Mugabe admitted that the economy is in a sorry state but denounced the selling of second hand clothes which many people have been surviving on in the country. Ironically she distributed 150 bales of second hand clothes to the villagers at the end of her rally.