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PRESIDENT Mugabe on Tuesday broke his silence on the ongoing upheavals within the ruling Zanu-PF party and labelled Vice President Joice Mujuru “too simplistic” and lacking capacity to lead Zimbabwe, making her position totally untenable. Addressing service chiefs and war veterans in Harare ahead of the start of the 6th elective Zanu-PF Congress, Cde Mugabe said Mujuru was conspiring with the opposition MDC and the United States to effect regime change in Zimbabwe.
The President accused the embattled Vice President, who was conspicuous by her absence from the Politburo meeting which heralded the start of the Congress, of embracing quisling politics. “We’re experiencing it for the first time in Zanu-PF and for that matter it’s a woman who is saying ndakudawo kumbogara (I also want to govern),” President Mugabe said drawing applause from the service chiefs and war veterans.
“And the consequences, ah no hapana anombofunga kuti (no one thinks that) can I actually handle the country nema pressures ese aya? We know the infiltration that has gone on. We know the discussions that have been done ‘oh tinozoita (we will) link up ne (with) MDC toita pamwe chete (and be together) and America then will pour lots of money, Britain’ ummmmh you know that simplistic thinking.
Simplistic thinking. I don’t trust a white man at all. Never!” he said.
Cde Mugabe chronicled how VP Mujuru was found wanting in July last year after resisting calls to hold elections to end the inclusive government which was like an albatross around the neck of Zanu-PF as it was dysfunctional. Exhorting the service chiefs and war veterans to remain resolute and committed to the ideals of the liberation struggle and not give in to temptations and carrots dangled by the West, the President said he would not shirk his responsibility to the people of Zimbabwe.
As he spoke, the Politburo was preparing to hold its last session before the constitution of a new one at Congress but notable absentees from the indaba were Mujuru and her allies Nicholas Goche and Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa. The VP’s camp has been finding it difficult to attend Politburo meetings since the full extent of their shenanigans in which they plotted to assassinate President Mugabe, were laid bare for the nation to see.
Indeed, Zanu-PF – the vanguard party of independence – is undergoing one of its most testing times but we believe it is necessary for it to cleanse itself of elements that are deviating from the ideals and values of the liberation struggle. The country’s service chiefs are on record as having declared that the highest office in the land is a straight jacket and anyone aspiring for it should exhibit total loyalty to the state and be prepared to uphold the founding principles of the nation of Zimbabwe.
In the same vein, President Mugabe has consistently stuck to the script despite attempts by the West to effect regime change through a catalogue of measures such as sanctions and sponsoring proxy opposition parties. His successor should therefore exhibit the same traits and fighting spirit inherent in the current leader.
By breaking his silence on the Mujuru issue, Cde Mugabe has effectively thrown down the gauntlet to his deputy to do the honourable thing and resign. Her position has become untenable following the latest revelations. We trust that if she does not throw in the towel, the ongoing Zanu-PF Congress will deal with her and her cabal.
We believe the party will find a way of emerging more united and stronger after this Congress. As the ruling party, Zanu-PF owes it to the nation to put its house in order and get down to the business of running the country and implementing its much-vaunted economic blueprint — the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.
Online Reporter