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Zimbabwe: Mujuru's party braces for 'war' with Mugabe

Zimbabwe

The former spokesperson of Robert Mugabe’s party, Rugare Gumbo, has said the newly formed “We are People First” party will unseat the Zimbabwean long time ruler in the 2018 elections.

“A number of people who had remained in Zanu-PF are now moving to us so that’s a big advantage and we think we will be quite competitive in 2018,” said Gumbo, who is the interim spokesperson of the Joice Mujuru led party that was formed days before Mugabe is to turn 92.

Gumbo, who fell out with the longtime Zimbabwean ruler, says Mugabe is an autocrat who cannot take honest criticism. “His major problem is that he cannot distinguish between criticism and betrayal and this has been his biggest undoing,” the former war veteran asserted.

Mujuru, who was Zimbabwe’s former vice-president, was fired in 2014 after being accused of corruption and plotting to overthrow the government by Mugabe’s wife, Grace.

The creation of ZPF came as crackdown on political opponents, threats of purge and fights within the Zanu-PF party continue in Zimbabwe, a country that often makes headlines for its perceived poor record on human rights.

Mugabe, Africa’s oldest leader, has announced he intends to present his candidacy despite being in power for three decades.

Zanu-PF’s vice-president, Emmerson Mnangagwa and Grace Mugabe are seen as possible candidates to succeed Mugabe.

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