A SENIOR Zanu PF official and deputy minister in the coalition government has claimed that her life is in danger as the party hunts down legislators suspected of voting against its candidate in the recent election for Speaker of parliament, a local daily has reported.
Tracey Mutinhiri, a Zanu PF Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Services told Newsday that she as living in fear for her life after being accused of voting for MDC-T candidate Lovemore Moyo.
Moyo beat Zanu PF national Chairman, Simon Khaya Moyo by 105 to 93 votes to reclaim the Speaker’s seat. Zanu PF suspects that some of its own legislators voted with the opposition and the hunt is reportedly on to identify them.
In an address to the party’s central committee last week, President Robert Mugabe deplored what he described as “betrayal” by the MPs adding: "We must cherish our principles because they make you what you are and we should stand by what we consider to be right. Ko wakambonzi nani pinda muZanu-PF? Ko chiendaka kwaTsvangirai kwacho."
Meanwhile, Mutinhiri said unidentified individuals had been calling her mobile phone accusing her of being one of the rebels amid claims she also risked losing her farm and being kicked out of the party.
“I am living in fear. I am being accused of having voted ‘wrongly’ during the election for the Speaker of Parliament last week. My life is in danger,” she was quoted as saying.
She said she was also being barred from party activities in her constituency adding she suspected she was being targeted because of her perceived closeness to individuals in the MDC-T leadership.
She refused to disclose to the newspaper whether she had in fact voted for the MDC-T candidate insisting the vote was supposed to secret and confidential.
“It was a secret ballot and for me to say I voted for Lovemore Moyo is something else. I find it surprising and a reflection of political enemies in my party,” she said.
Regarding the possible expulsion from Zanu PF and loss of her farm, Mutinhiri said she was not bothered as long as the party left her alone.
“If they want to take my farm, I am ex-wife of a man who fought in the liberation struggle. After all, I don’t have a position in Zanu PF. Why would they want to kill me?” she said.