Social media network Twitter turned into a battleground early this week as President Robert Mugabe’s cabinet ministers took each other on over the just-ended Heroes’ Day and Defence Forces’ Day holidays, a report said on Thursday.
Tertiary Education Minister Jonathan Moyo exchanged harsh words with fellow Zanu-PF MP, Justice Mayor Wadyajena, over the ongoing factional fights with the ruling party.
Wadyadyena who has publicly declared that he looks up to embattled Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa as his political godfather, was jubilant after Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantino Chiwenga spoke against factionalism in Zanu-PF.
Chiwenga reportedly accused Jonathan Moyo of trying to destroy Zanu-PF from within and insinuated that Mandi Chimene, who heads a faction of the war veterans, was a marijuana smoker as widely speculated.
The comments excited Wadyajena who tweeted:
'Enter the General!! Chimwe chikomba tasa. https://twitter.com/wamagaisa/status/762210319020204032 …'
Soon after the tweets their exchange degenerated into a clear twitter war (twar) between the two factions of the ruling Zanu-PF party.
Twitter exchange
Meanwhile, another cabinet minister, Super Mandiwanzira, had a tough exchange with former finance minister Tendai Biti over a vehicle purchase of $200 000 using a loan from the Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz).
The two had a public spat after Mandiwanzira accused Biti of stealing $40 million from Potraz.
“Explain why, as finance minister, you looted $40m from Potraz telecomms fund,” tweeted Mandiwanzira, before Biti shot back.
Biti immediately threatened to take legal action as he tweeted.
“As a night school law student, be wary of the laws of defamation. You are not immune to those. Just a warning.”
