adminfor the party in the province and other issues
WN: You must be a relieved man?
JM: I am a happy man because I was elected by the whole province with an overwhelming majority after spending two years on the sidelines.
WN: About that, what had happened?
JM: Nothing had really happened because I was acquitted. If I had done anything wrong then the party disciplinary system would have found me guilty. I would say some people just wanted to push me out.
WN: Would you like to shed light on that?
JM: It is now all water under the bridge because I have forgiven them and I am sure they have done the same for the sake of the party and progress. It is time to bury the past so that we move together and work as a team.
WN: Did you ever imagine yourself making such a comeback?
JM: I always knew that sooner or later I would bounce back because I was born and bred in Zanu-PF meaning that there is nowhere else I can go or look to. If not as a chairman I knew I would serve my party in other ways.
WN: You have been away for slightly over two years. How has it been like?
JM: The past two years have been the most painful years of my entire life. What made it so painful was the fact that I had not done anything wrong.
You know that for a person who has stolen cattle and sent to prison, the time in prison is not so painful like that of a person who has not stolen. That is the pain I was going through.
WN: Earlier you mentioned that you always knew you would come back?
JM: I knew that I had the grassroots support and that most members of the provincial executive were behind me because they knew that I was innocent. That is what made all the difference.
WN: You come into office at a time party is allegedly saddled by divisions and factionalism, how do you hope to tackle that?
JM: Yes divisions were there to the extent that they were threatening to tear the party apart and the divisions can be traced to around 2008 when the move to oust me as chairman was gathering momentum.
Some people sympathised with me while others were in favour of the motion to remove me. As substantive chairman now I think that if people are truly Zanu-PF, the divisions and animosity should end.
If we are true party cadres we should be able to bury the hatchet and move in one direction and strengthen our party. Things did not go well for us (Zanu-PF) as a party in 2008 because we were not pulling in the same direction. I would like everyone to come on board.
WN: The party is gearing for a referendum and subsequently elections, what are your plans?
JM: I am looking at campaigning vigorously for the party so that we defend the wishes of the people who made their input in the constitution outreach process. Zvido zvevanhu zvinofanira kuchengetedzwa.
I want to make sure that Zanu-PF in Mash West wins overwhelmingly in the forthcoming elections and referendum. We have to retain the seats we lost. That is why even as I was on suspension I was itching to come back so that I work with others to make it a reality.
WN: The provincial executive has at least three vacant posts, what is the way forward?
JM: I am going to sit with the executive members who have been in office while I was away so that we chart the way forward with a view to fill the vacancies in line with the party constitution.
WN: Apart from politics, you also head the Grain Marketing Board as provincial manager?
JM: I am happy that inputs are coming in but like everything not everyone is getting them. I would like to thank Government for making inputs available
WN: Now that you are chairman of the province, what is your next target?
JM: Like everyone else, I want to keep rising but as politicians you are voted by people to assume a position. I harbour ambitions but those are subject to the wishes of the people.
WN: Who is your inspiration in politics?
JM: The man himself, President Mugabe.
WN: What do you do in your time when you are not working as a politician or at GMB?
JM: I am a farmer and I like to spend most of my time at the farm but outside that I like to watch TV especially the news and football.
My favourite team like most people of my age is Dynamos or DeMbare.
WN: What is your favourite dish?
JM: Because of gout I no longer take red meat so I mostly like chicken, fish, pork and mufushwa.
Online Reporter