Gumbo seeks to divert attention from self

Harare Bureau
UNDER fire Zanu-PF national spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo, who was caught in a storm for misrepresenting politburo outcomes to the media, has sought to divert attention from his questionable activities by calling on Zanu-PF officials to concentrate on the economy.

Analysts yesterday said it was strange that Cde Gumbo was now calling for a focus on the economy only after he had been caught offside.

His misrepresentation of facts based on factional lines has seen the Midlands and Matabeleland North provinces resolving that he is no longer fit to be party spokesperson.

The provinces said Cde Gumbo’s shenanigans were grave and warranted removal from his post of Zanu-PF secretary for information and publicity.

Cde Gumbo yesterday said in a statement that the party should create a favourable environment for peace, unity and development for the economy to grow and investors to come. He said those pushing factional interests were insensitive.

“Anyone who seeks to push personal and factional interests at a time like this where millions of our people are suffering and many investors are sitting on the fence pursuing a wait-and-see-approach is not only selfish, insensitive and on the wrong side of history, but is also tarnishing the good name of the party and drawing unnecessary hatred towards the same,” he said. “This isn’t only detrimental to our future electoral prospects, but has the real danger of tarnishing President Mugabe’s otherwise splendid reputation and legacy. It’s absolutely critical that we work towards the accelerated implementation of Zim-Asset and desist from any negative behaviour to ensure the preservation of the good name and record of Zanu-PF in word and in practice.”

Cde Gumbo said factionalism had caused “unprecedented levels of tension” in the party.

“The time has come to redirect that focus back to our main purpose and to ensure that we chart the best economic way forward for the Zimbabwean people in line with our election pledges and consistent with the aspirations of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-economic Transformation,” he said.

Cde Gumbo said a sizeable number of youths were unemployed while many families were concerned about their general welfare, not factionalism. “The fact is that we’re really faced with a desperate situation that calls for an urgent change of priorities,” Cde Gumbo said. “Equally, the business community has borne the brunt of the current economic climate due to the present liquidity challenges.”