‘Am not guilty comrades’

acumen and support for Zanu-PF, but recent developments have blighted his political career. Assistant Editor George Chisoko (GC) caught up with Central Committee member Cde Jimayi Muduvuri (JM) to shed light on the accusations of double dipping leveled against him

GC: Cde Muduvuri, the Politburo referred back to the national disciplinary committee your case of bringing the name of the party into disrepute by having one leg in Zanu-PF and the other in Mavambo. Does this not mark the end of your political career going into the conference?

JM: Firstly, I have respect for my party Zanu-PF and so will not want to interfere with the investigations of the national disciplinary committee.
I must from the onset tell you that I will respect whatever outcome of the disciplinary committee regarding the accusations against me. For now, I remain a senior member of the party.

GC: What are these accusations?

JM: I am being accused of bringing the name of the party into disrepute by interfering in the activities of other provinces and hosting the launch of Mavambo at my house.

GC: Indeed these are serious allegations of double dipping that you are facing but you know as I do that there is no smoke without a fire.
What exactly happened because my understanding is that you actually had tea with Mavambo leader Simba Makoni at your Kadoma house?

JM: The accusations have come from people who are unhappy with my political career and the way my business has progressed. I never had tea with Simba Makoni at my house or any conversation with him. I only know him during the time he was a Zanu-PF Politburo member.
Even if we were to go on parade, I will tell you Simba Makoni will never identify me because we were never that close enough.

GC: You have served Zanu-PF for many years as an ordinary and Central Committee member and so it baffles me why suddenly accusations come from all directions aimed at you. What do you think you could have done wrong?

JM: The accusations are coming obviously from my detractors bent on peddling falsehoods only to tarnish my image but whatever happens, I will never leave Zanu-PF.
I joined the party alone without anyone coercing me to do so and I am what I am today because of Zanu-PF and I cannot abandon the party for anything.

GC: But you had almost abandoned the party by enjoying tea and cakes with Mavambo leader Simba Makoni.

JM: No no, I never joined Mavambo. I was never in any of their structures. Let those people who were with me in forming or launching Mavambo come forward and claim I am their member and then surely if that happens, then maybe I can be at peace with myself than just having to suffer for crimes that I did not commit.

GC: You sound very bitter. Are you bitter with Zanu-PF for hauling you to a hearing when your other comrades were recently given a lifeline?

JM: I am not bitter at all because I know all these are mere allegations. My bitterness is not aimed at Zanu- PF but stems from knowing there are people out there ready to destroy others by peddling falsehoods.
To President Mugabe and the entire party leadership, I will always support the party and Cde Mugabe in the coming elections whatever the outcome of my disciplinary case.
My appeal though to the national disciplinary committee, is that they must just investigate my case fully to all the parties’ satisfaction.

GC: How does it feel to have a case pending. Doesn’t that affect your work in the party?

JM: Obviously, it pains me a lot considering that the only party I know is Zanu-PF. I was in the Central Committee at the age of around 36 years having joined the party at a very young age. I therefore cannot even dream of joining any other political party or even to form my own party because my umbilical chord is in Zanu-PF.

GC: Away from the disciplinary case and other problems the party is probing you for, what is your take on indigenisation and empowerment?

JM: President Mugabe must be supported through and through. We must tell each other the truth because most of us are what we are in business through Zanu-PF.
The indigenisation policy has simply enabled us to take control of the economy. In this respect, I want to urge the youths to stand solidly behind the President and take advantage of the various empowerment tools the Government is making available to them so that they become their own bosses and not remain employees forever.

GC: How did you start business and end up in politics?
JM: I started my business as a small bar operating in Kadoma in 1985. The business spread to areas like Gokwe where I set up a fuel station in 2000 with the help of the Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment Cde Saviour Kasukuwere.
He gave me everything needed to set up a service station from the pumps to everything. During the same time I was pursuing business my interest in politics grew and in 1989 I was elected secretary of economic affairs in Denda in Gokwe. I continued with my commitment to the party until I was elected into the Central Committee.

GC: What do you plan to do in the event the national disciplinary committee clears you of the charges you are facing?

JM: I will continue working hard for the party as a senior member, which is what I am doing right now.
My ambition though is to become a Member of Parliament while the President is still at the helm.
This ambition is an open secret and probably explains why my detractors are working hard to have me remain on the sidelines.

GC: Don’t you think you could save the precious time of the national disciplinary committee by owning up to your crimes if deep down your heart you know you are guilty?

JM: I would have done that a long time ago if I was guilty. For your information, I am not in Zanu-PF for the money. I have made my money on the back of Zanu-PF’s sound economic policies.
What I want now is for my party Zanu-PF to remain strong and survive all future elections. Meanwhile, I await the outcome of the national disciplinary committee.

GC: It was really nice talking to you Cde Muduvuri. I hope the verdict of the national disciplinary committee comes out in your favour?

JM: That is also my wish, thank you.