Moyo lawsuit exposes Zanu PF’s worst kept secrets
By Lance Guma
30 November 2006

Some of Zanu PF’s worst kept secrets came tumbling out in the open this week as two senior party members began defending themselves against a Z$200 million dollar lawsuit by Tsholotsho MP Jonathan Moyo. Zanu PF chairman and speaker of parliament John Nkomo and politiburo member Dumiso Dabengwa face defamation charges brought by the former information minister who claims they falsely accused him of using a gathering in Tsholotsho to plot a coup against Mugabe.

During the High Court session hearing the matter, Nkomo accused Rural Housing minister Emerson Mnangagwa of being the chief sponsor of the alleged plot with help from Sithembiso Nyoni another party member. The meeting is alleged to have plotted the ascendancy of Mnangagwa to the Vice Presidency in open defiance of Mugabe who Nkomo says had already made his choice of Joyce Mujuru known to everyone.

Nkomo claims the plan would have seen the replacement of Vice President Joseph Msika with Mnangagwa, while Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa would replace Nkomo as National Chairman of the party. Nkomo further claims central committee member Thenjiwe Lesabe would have been given the post of second Vice President. He claims the plan fell through because the main actors started arguing over money after Mnangagwa paid some of his supporters and left out others.

Lionel Saungweme who has been attending the court sessions says Nkomo’s legal team have been trying to paint a picture of Moyo as a dishonest person who had a ‘big head.’ Nkomo says Moyo lied about his liberation war credentials. ‘I never met him. I didn't know him and I have never met anyone who says he knew him. Even in the camps that he says he was in, both in Tanzania and Zambia, I never had the privilege of knowing he was there,’ he said.

The case will continue to be heard in Bulawayo but already those involved are having to reveal closely guarded secrets in an attempt to defend themselves. The ‘Tsholotsho coup’ as its now referred to, resulted in the demotion of Mnangagwa to the obscure rural housing ministry with six out of ten provincial chairmen who attended the meeting getting either suspended or expelled from the party.