“It’s time to build a new Zimbabwe in peace. It needs reform in all sectors,” she said to a roaring crowd of supporters.

Joice Mujuru – Zimbabwe’s biblical Joshua?
By Grace Kwinjeh| Former Vice -President Joice Mujuru has come out with a bang, at last officially joining opposition ranks, with many speculating as to whether her Zanu PF past is redeemable and that she would at this political juncture, be the game changer – the biblical Joshua (oppression wall destroyer) that Zimbabweans have expectantly been waiting for.

The veteran politician had over the past months played her cards close to her chest, as she kept both foes and friends guessing on what her political game plan is, working quietly behind the scenes and finally choosing this moment to launch and speak.
Mujuru addressed a press conference, which was held at the Meikles Hotel, attended by mostly influential former members from the Zanu PF party, scores of disgruntled war vets, who came out in full support of the former Vice President.
Among these were: John Mvundura, former Manicaland Chairperson, former Deputy Information Minister Brighton Matonga, former MDC T Harare Councillor Friday Nleya, Rugare Gumbo, Sylvester Nguni, Didymus Mutasa , Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, Henry Muradzikwa, Retired Colonel Caudious Makova, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Kudzai Mbudzi and Retired Brigadier Elliot Kasi.
Mujuru in her speech played to different galleries in her audience whose support is crucial to her building a momentum for People First, as she seeks to capitalise on the internal strife within Zanu PF, despondency in opposition ranks while gaining support from the diplomatic community, with the hope of being elected the first female President of Zimbabwe in 2018. “We shall rejoin the Commonwealth. We have ties with other countries, we can have diplomatic relations without affecting our sovereignty,” she told the gathering.
Also crucial to her party’s fortunes in this strategy is the overall gloomy political and economic environment, from which People First hopes to capitalise, despite the fact that they are part and parcel of the leadership who are collectively blamed for the rot.
These are some of the political Grey areas the veteran politician, who spoke with calm and maturity has to deal with as she courts the support of despondent and skeptical Zimbabweans.
“It’s time to build a new Zimbabwe in peace. It needs reform in all sectors.” She said to a roaring crowd of supporters. She also said that people live under an unjust system that applies the law selectively. “The ordinary person’s capacity to earn a living has disappeared, government faces a cash squeeze.”
In this regard Mujuru was well guarded in her speech not to throw spanners in the works and upset those in Zanu PF, the party she cut her political teeth in. She carries an impressive political C.V from being one of the first female commanders in ZANLA , to after independence under the mentor-ship of President Robert Mugabe, rising through the ranks, when she was appointed one of Zimbabwe’s first female ministers, rising to the position of first female Vice-President.
Justifying her response and respect when asked about President Mugabe she said, “I don’t believe in talking about other people’s characters, I am not God. Yes, Mugabe was my boss for a long time and I will not discuss his character. Let’s focus on progressive issues, for the development of our country.
During her time in Zanu PF, mai Mujuru also enjoyed the largess and protection of her powerful husband, General Solomon Mujuru, who later died under mysterious circumstances at their Alamein Farm in 2011.
Then she fell from grace a victim of the internecine wars which continue to claim scalps of senior party leaders in Zanu PF.
Consequently, whether her opponents like it or not this part of her history gives her a certain gravitas on the political scene to earn the support especially of the often troublesome and hardliner security forces, who have given veteran opposition politician Morgan Tsvangirai a torrid time in politics because of his lack of war credentials. Sadly, it is also an area hurting and traumatised Zimbabweans need more convincing that indeed she is the Joshua who will lead them across the river Jordan.
There is a background to the cautiousness by Zimbabweans as others like Edgar Tekere before Mujuru, came on the political scene, with much fanfare which amounted to nothing other than dissipating opposition energies, leaving it weakened.
Consequently, Mujuru cannot have it two ways, that is to speak on human rights while in the same breadth heaping praise on known perpetrators such as her right hand man, Dydimus Mutasa among others whose history is well documented and begs the question when People First talks justice; are they saying by breaking ranks from Zanu-PF they automatically become both clean and immune to prosecution?
Mujuru also spoke on other opposition players, saying she is yet to meet Morgan Tsvangirai and other political parties. “Let’s bring the transformation everyone is looking for and build our country in peace, while some revolutionaries are pulling Zimbabwe down. Zimbabweans, be part of this agenda to restore practical hope to our people. We abhor political violence and intolerance. The civil service should be apolitical, efficient and professional. We are fighting against a system, it is that system which is unjust. This system has stolen any hope for the people of Zimbabwe.”
Mujuru also dispelled the rumour that she met Tsvangirai before, and said she will officially meet him and that People First is open to dialogue. Many seem to be advocating a united front to dislodge Zanu PF how feasible this will be is a matter of time.
For now it is game-on for Joice Mujuru who still has to battle it out on the political-grand stage with her erstwhile colleagues, who include First Lady Grace Mugabe, among others.