admin
Herald Reporter
Goromonzi South Constituency legislator Cde Petronella Kagonye yesterday distanced herself from the Zanu-PF faction led by Vice President Joice Mujuru saying she respected President Mugabe because he was the one who elevated her into a senior post in Government.
In an interview, Cde Kagonye said people in her constituency did not march against her, but it was people who were bussed from Goromonzi North and Chitungwiza by Cdes Ozwell Gwanzura and Fanuel Chauruka who were working in cahoots with the Mujuru faction.
Cde Kagonye said she had evidence to prove the pair’s involvement and their sinister motives.
“I have been working in Government for 13 years and I am a beneficiary of President Mugabe’s sound policies.
“I cannot turn against him, in fact I am happy that First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe has joined politics.
“I have no links whatsoever to any MDC formation. I am the one who wrestled the seat from the opposition which had controlled the constituency for two terms. I actually garnered 17 500 votes,” she said.
Cde Kagonye who was accused by some Zanu-PF supporters who demonstrated against her at Ruwa Shopping Centre on Tuesday of having affairs with Zesa board chairman Cde Herbert Murerwa and other senior party officials, denied the allegations saying she was married to Mr Thompson Midzi with whom she had four children.
“I worked with Cde Murerwa because I was his subordinate in the Lands Ministry and he was also a Politburo member and Senator of the area I was campaigning.
“Right now I do not know how my husband or Mrs Murerwa are feeling.
“All these allegations are coming from losers of the party primary elections held last year plotting to tarnish my image and discredit me ahead of the 2018 elections,” she said.
Cde Kagonye said the demonstrations were the work of Cde Stambile Makamba and Cde Ray Kaukonde who have already been booted out of party structures for fanning factionalism.
The Deputy Minister denied swindling housing co-operatives as alleged saying she did not get any money from the housing co-operatives adding that she had barred chairmen from collecting money from beneficiaries.
She said co-operatives were still to benefit as plans for the land they got were still to be approved by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
She said other co-operatives had no problems save for Solomon Mujuru which was hijacked by the late General Mujuru’s brother Joel and Shingiriro whose leaders pocketed money paid by beneficiaries.
Cde Kagonye said Cde Kaukonde and Cde Gwanzura had personal interests in Goromonzi as they were protecting 46 white farmers who were still farming on gazetted land.
Online Reporter