Mugabe says “we cannot run the party from newspaper headlines or angry placards”

President Robert Mugabe has called for a stop to all party demonstrations saying the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front cannot be run from newspaper headlines and angry placards.

The party has been rocked by demonstrations which saw two key officials of the Women League, Eunice Sandi-Moyo, the deputy leader and Sarah Mahoka the treasurer, resigning under pressure to leave for allegedly undermining First Lady Grace Mugabe.

Mashonaland Central Province also held demonstrations calling for national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere to be expelled from the party for trying to oust Mugabe.

Mugabe’s call before Kasukuwere’s fate is decided has led to speculation that he is trying to protect Kasukuwere one of the alleged leaders of G40 and once a strong backer of the First Lady.

Mugabe did not protect Sandi-Moyo and Mahoka but instead allowed them to resign following country-wide demonstrations which most believe were orchestrated by his wife.

“It is sheer small mindedness to generate little discordant noises such as we have heard lately, whose effect amount to detracting from our ringing successes,” Mugabe told the party central committee yesterday.

“To all who have been expressing displeasures through demonstrations in various provinces, we say you have made your points, and your voices have been heard.

“The party does have structures and organs designed to handle such matters in a dignified way.

“We must now give those organs time to look into the grievances expressed, due process must be allowed and followed.

“We cannot run the party from newspaper headlines or angry placards.

“The party runs on rules and procedures. These must now take precedence over all else.”

Mugabe also rubbished the proposed grand coalition by the country’s opposition parties saying it would lead to grand defeat.

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