Mujuru wanted to use Nigerian witches to topple me – Mugabe

news24

Cape Town – Former Zimbabwean vice president Joice Mujuru has rubbished  President Robert Mugabe's claim that she was a witch who hired the services of Nigerian witchdoctors to try and topple him from power.

According to News Day, Mugabe claimed in his birthday speech that Mujuru roped in Nigerian witches in an attempt to kill him and other Zanu-PF party officials whom she viewed as a hindrance to her political ascendancy.

Mugabe claimed that 10 chickens were slaughtered, each representing the person who Mujuru wanted to have killed, starting with him, his wife Grace, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo, among others, the report said.

Mugabe also made sensational claims that Mujuru performed the alleged rituals while "topless with breasts hanging".

Outright lies

But Mujuru, in a statement sent to the media, said it was disturbing how allegations that she tried to topple the president had been reduced to allegations of witchcraft.

"I am at loss as to how I continue to be the subject matter of presidential conjecture and fantasy based on outright lies.... I am sure even the ordinary Zimbabwean has become tired of this story in its various guises. It’s a charade which has lost steam," Mujuru was quoted as saying.

Mujuru's ally, ousted Zanu-PF spokesperson,Rugare Gumbo urged Mugabe to "stop making laughable public statements", adding the nonagenarian should instead focus on the country's critical issues like the ailing economy, said a Daily News report.

Gumbo and other senior party bigwigs, including Mujuru, were brutally purged before, during and after Zanu-PF's congress that was held in Harare in December last year, on allegations that they wanted to assassinate Mugabe.

Presidential immunity

Meanwhile, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change has urged Mujuru to take Mugabe to court over the accusations, saying Mugabe was in breach of the country's Witchcraft Suppression Act.

New Zimbabwe.com quoted MDC Spokesperson Obert Gutu as saying Zimbabwe's Witchcraft Suppression Act criminalised the act of accusing anyone of being a witch and/or of practicing witchcraft or sorcery.

"Robert Mugabe boldly accused Joice Mujuru of practising and dabbling in voodoo and thereby, Mugabe has clearly breached the law," said Gutu was quoted as saying.

Gutu, however, was quick to point out that Mujuru could not sue Mugabe whilst he was still president as he enjoyed presidential immunity in terms of the provisions of Section 98 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

Mujuru would have to wait until Mugabe vacates office, Gutu said.