I did not get Nigerian witchdoctors to kill Mugabe, says ex-VP Mujuru

Former Zimbabwe Vice-President Joice Mujuru. She has denied claims by President Robert Mugabe that she consulted Nigerian witchdoctors in a plot to kill him. AFP PHOTO

What you need to know:

The 91 year-old leader told his supporters that Ms Mujuru who was fired last year over the alleged plot was made to perform some rituals by two Nigerians while naked

Former Zimbabwe Vice-President Joice Mujuru has described as ‘presidential fancy and lies’ claims by President Robert Mugabe that she consulted Nigerian witchdoctors in a plot to kill him.

President Mugabe made the allegations during his 91st birthday celebrations in the resort town of Victoria Falls on Saturday.

The 91 year-old leader told his supporters that Ms Mujuru who was fired last year over the alleged plot was made to perform some rituals by two Nigerians while naked.

He said the Nigerians told his then deputy that the president, his wife and some of his close associates would die within days.

However, Ms Mujuru who has been a victim of a barrage of attacks from President Mugabe, his wife and top ruling Zanu PF officials said the onslaught against her had reached new lows.

“I am a committed Christian and was the leader of apostolic churches as patron and I have been committed to Christian life and values all of my life,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.

“It is disturbing that the allegations that I tried to or was part of a conspiracy to assassinate the president have now been reduced to allegations of witchcraft, whose versions change on a daily basis.

TIRED OF THIS STORY

“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,” she said.

Ms Mujuru said the allegations that she plotted to kill the president and was corrupt should be proven in a court of law.

“I have said it before and I repeat it again, I don’t do such, I am innocent of all these charges and I am ready to face the allegation(s) in open court or any other public forum within the Zanu PF constitutional structures.

“I fought for the liberation of this country and hold the ideals of the liberation struggle and Zanu PF close to my heart. I have not betrayed my party nor its leadership,” she added.

In a thinly veiled threat to President Mugabe, Ms Mujuru said she had all along remained quiet out of respect for the veteran ruler as party leader and her silence should not be viewed as a sign of weakness or guilt.

FOCUS ON NATION BUILDING

“My focus is on nation building and avoiding unnecessary destruction of the party I belong to, Zanu PF, by newcomers who are motivated by self-interest and do not put the people first,” she said.

Ms Mujuru was fired together with more than 10 Cabinet ministers for allegedly plotting to assassinate President Mugabe and being involved in corrupt activities.

The former VP has repeatedly denied the allegations and some of the fired ministers are preparing to go to court to challenge their expulsion from Zanu PF.

President Mugabe said Ms Mujuru was now too desperate to push him out of power even after he won an election in 2013.

Last year, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs ministry summoned Zimbabwean envoy in Abuja Stanely Kunjeku to protests after President Mugabe said Nigerians were corrupt.

The Nigerian government at the time said it had lodged ‘the strongest protest’ against the veteran ruler’s statements.