Zanu-PF secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa, has hit back at Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Chris Mutsvangwa, describing him as a junior party member as factionalism in the party continues to deepen.
Mutsvangwa, in uncharacteristic remarks in the Herald newspaper at the weekend, attacked Vice President Joice Mujuru and Mutasa for exaggerating their war credentials.
In an interview with other publications, Mutasa vowed to dress down Mutsvangwa on Tuesday calling him “bogus”.
Factionalism is widening in Zanu-PF as the battle to succeed the 90 year-old President Robert Mugabe hots up and as party members jostle for positions ahead of the party’s December elective congress.
Mutsvangwa alleges Vice President Mujuru never downed a helicopter during the liberation war and challenged her to come out in the open on her position on Grace Mugabe being elevated as the women’s boss designate.
Mujuru left school, after two years of secondary education, to join liberation struggle in 1973 and was reported to have downed a helicopter in 1974, earning the nom de guerre of Teurai Ropa (Spill Blood).
She was a member of the general staff of the Zimbabwe National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and in 1974 she was the commander of Chimoio Camp, Mozambique.
Mutsvangwa also took a swipe at Mutasa calling him a coward who is plotting the ouster President Mugabe. Efforts get a comment from Mujuru were futile.
Mutsvangwa said he was in a meeting and could not comment. But Mutasa told Studio 7 that he will not engage Mutsvangwa in public.
Mutasa’s sentiments were also echoed by party spokesman Rugare Gumbo who says the party will take action.
But political analyst, and acting head of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Joy Mabenge said things are falling apart in Zanu-PF as Mr. Mugabe continues to lose grip of the party.