‘FACTIONS EQUAL TREASON’

From Nduduzo Tshuma in Harare
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe yesterday rapped factionalism and jockeying for positions in Zanu-PF saying such acts were not only contrary to the revolutionary party’s culture of doing things but also treasonous.

Addressing party members who gathered at the Robert Mugabe Square in Harare for the One Million Man March, President Mugabe paid special tribute to the youth league for organising the march and engaging their colleagues from tertiary institutions and incorporating war veterans into the grand occasion.

“That’s what we want and in the party we’ll be very happy that you’ll continue in this way, continue in this way and avoid being confused by the confusionists, they’ll always be there, those who want you to belong to them. The leaders who say only listen to what I say, we say down with that.

“The party principles belong to the party, the leaders who are listened to are party leaders, what they say should be in support of the objectives of the party and not their selfish interests,” said President Mugabe.

He called on the youths to listen to themselves and the voice of the party and never listen to the discordant voices from whatever sources they may come within the party.

“The party has no factions. Those who say they belong to this or belong to that are deceiving themselves. It’s only Zanu-PF and let’s not hear discordant voices from youths forever. Our war veterans, I say must work within the party. They can’t be pitching their own political voice outside the party. No! They must come within the party then whatever grievances they have will be solved within the party,” said President Mugabe.

“Whatever progressive ideas they have, will be listened to within the party. There must never be little groups to promote so and so. Those little groups are treasonous groups, they’re treasonous groups, they spoil the party. There’s a one group Zanu-PF. Why don’t you come with your views to the party? We discuss them. Your differences in the party, your criticisms even within the party. You can criticise the leaders within the party and not go to newspapers, the Daily What? The Daily Nonsense.

“You’re making these little papers live. You’re helping them to live. You’re giving them life. The stories that are being told, you get the stories about the First Lady, the story about so and so in the leadership, that’s nonsense, you must stop that.

“ The party was never formed on any other principles besides those of unity, togetherness and harmony not disharmony.”

President Mugabe said there are some within the party who specialise in writing to the press giving false information about others saying he didn’t want such acts and they should be stopped.

He said the culture of Zanu-PF since the days of the liberation struggle is that the people are the ones who elect leaders to positions.

President Mugabe said the celebration of his leadership was guided by the memory of how he got into the revolutionary party from Ghana where he had seen how liberation movements were organised.

“I had also learnt that, when you join a liberation movement, you’re supposed to be committed to serve under the leadership of that organisation. The ones at the leadership are the ones you support and follow. I think you saw or were told that as we held our congresses, there was no one who demanded any positions, even I, I never demanded any position.

“I was told at the beginning that I would be publicity secretary at the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Zapu and I agreed. When Zanu was formed, I was made secretary general and I agreed. I never demanded to be President of the party, there was never a single day I made those demands,” he said.

President Mugabe said even his elevation to the party’s Presidency came from the people and he never imposed himself on the position.

He said during the war, when the first Zanu leader Ndabaningi Sithole was removed from the helm, he was seconded for the same position but insisted that proper processes involving the people should be done.

President Mugabe said the comrades insisted that the war needed a leader and the late Simon Muzenda among other comrades held a meeting in Chimoio, Mozambique and passed a resolution that he becomes the party President as it was important that the liberation movement be seen as a complete party.

He said later after his elevation, cadres like Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was coming from university and Defence minister Cde Sydney Sekeramayi, joined the party and were given positions without campaigning for or demanding them.

“I want it to be clear that it’s not our culture in the party for people to declare that they want this or that post or even go to traditional healers. We’ve never held meetings where we selected leaders in the dark, it should be the wishes of the people,” said President Mugabe.

“The people’s wishes, they’re the ones who determine the position that you deserve. In the party, we hold congresses where we elect people. These things that were happening to the effect that this is one’s faction is new to us. It creates problems in the party, it’s not the way things are done in the party.

“The leaders who are selected must be upright and where you’re deployed, do your work there and not plot against others. This isn’t football where you trip others. The people know the leaders they want, they want leaders who listen to their wishes and take the people forward guided by their aspirations.”

President Mugabe also warned some ministers to desist from complaining over their deployments to certain ministries saying they should be content with their assignments.

He said he has received reports of ministers who complain after redeployment but said he knows where they could be able to perform.

“At times, you won’t be deserving. There are some who come and say I’m now MP and I qualify to be minister but you haven’t qualified at all. Not at all. Do your work in parliament and then you’ll be appointed to come to government,” said President Mugabe.