Gumbo invites ‘Gamatox’ members to People First

Politics
FORMER Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo has urged Zanu PF officials who are being vilified and harassed in the party over their perceived links to former Vice-President Joice Mujuru, to be bold enough to jump ship and openly join the People First party.

FORMER Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo has urged Zanu PF officials who are being vilified and harassed in the party over their perceived links to former Vice-President Joice Mujuru, to be bold enough to jump ship and openly join the People First party.

BY WINSTONE ANTONIO

Gumbo, who is now spokesperson for the new grouping calling itself “genuine and original” Zanu PF (1963), or simply People First, said party officials including Cabinet ministers and MPs who were being persecuted for their perceived loyalty to Mujuru should not continue to subject themselves to humiliation “at the hands of weevils”.

Gumbo told The Standard that the current purges in Zanu PF were pushing more officials and ordinary people to the Mujuru camp.

“What Zanu PF is doing will certainly affect them, but we have said whatever they are doing they are pushing people to the side of Mujuru. It’s up to the people affected to react. We hope they will be courageous enough to come out in the open,” Gumbo said.

He said Zanu PF purges had divided and caused disharmony in the country.

Perceived Mujuru allies who have so far survived the on-going purges, have on several occasions been humiliated and isolated at public events where they continue to be labelled “gamatox.”

Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa speaking at a rally at Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo last week said the purge of the Gamatox faction was far from over.

“Zanu PF is a revolutionary party. If you do not toe the correct line, you go. No one is a sacred cow in Zanu PF. People are fired one-by-one, so don’t be fooled. Those who are against the revolution will be swept aside,” Mnangagwa warned.

Tourism minister, Walter Mzembi was last week relegated to the backseat and totally ignored at a State event officiated by Mnangagwa in Masvingo. Ironically, the event was related to his tourism portfolio yet he was treated as if he was not present. Mzembi is perceived to be loyal to Mujuru.

But as the political drama continues to unfold in Zanu PF, some members of the gamatox faction last week said they no longer feared to be axed from the ruling party — some of them in fact said they looked forward to the expulsion which they said would set them free.

“They can go ahead and convene their kangaroo courts. We no longer care,” said one MP perceived to be a Mujuru ally.

“We have witnessed several innocent party officials becoming victims of the purges. With the way things are going, I will not be surprised to be a victim any time despite my loyalty to the party.” A former Politburo member who also requested anonymity said getting fired from Zanu PF was no longer an issue to worry about, but an opportunity to look for better fortunes outside the ruling party.

“People are being sacrificed for nothing as fear of Mujuru persists in Zanu PF. Mujuru still commands a huge following and a lot of respect,” said the former Politburo member.

“The sooner they fire me, the better, because I will have more time to think about my political future. Zanu PF is not the alpha and omega of politics.”

Zanu PF has already expelled several officials, among them Mujuru, Gumbo and former secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa.

The axe is also hovering over the heads of several senior officials, including former Mashonaland East chairman Ray Kaukonde, former Public Service minister Nicholas Goche, former Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs minister, Simbaneuta Mudarikwa and former Deputy Justice minister Fortune Chasi. Former Harare chairperson Amos Midzi and many others are also facing the axe.