First Lady raps disunity

Kuda Bwititi  Harare Bureau
FIRST Lady Amai Grace Mugabe has vowed to promote unity in Zanu-PF, saying the Women’s League should be at the forefront of fighting divisions.
Amai Mugabe, who was endorsed to take over as Women’s League Secretary at the party’s Congress in December also pledged to learn the principles of leadership from her predecessors.

Speaking at the just ended Zanu-PF Women’s League Conference in Harare on Friday night, Amai Mugabe said factionalism should be dealt with decisively.

“I don’t want to see a repetition of what happened during the Youth Conference. I hope that this so-called factionalism will come to an end. And hopefully one day, this word called faction or factionalism is not something that we will talk about,” she said.

Amai Mugabe said although she did not have much experience in politics, she would learn from those who have been in the trenches.

“And I want to assure you that when the time comes when I am confirmed, my duty is not to obliterate what my predecessors have achieved but I am just going to continue from where they left. I am not well versed in the field of politics, I am here to learn.

“Thank you very much for having given me the opportunity to work with you and in the process to learn what it means to be the leader. But I know that you will be there for me, you will teach me as we go, I know if I make mistakes you will correct me…”

Amai Mugabe said she acknowledged the difficult task that awaited her once she assumed the powerful post. “I have been watching with keen interest all the proceedings from yesterday, even before the Conference started.

“I realise that it’s a lot of work that has been done. In fact, I was remarking to Mama Muchinguri that I don’t envy the position because I know it’s not an easy task.
“There are a lot of expectations out there and moreso that you are the First Lady, people expect wonders and things that are unheard of to be done. But I know that the women in Zimbabwe are very capable and have worked very hard against all odds and I know it has been very difficult for you to organise this conference but all the same as the President said you came, you saw and you conquered.”