admin
Tichaona Zindoga Harare Bureau
ZANU-PF national political commissar and Minister of Local Government and National Housing, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, says he is there to assist and serve President Robert Mugabe and should not be implicated in any succession plots and speculations. Privately-owned newspapers have been writing stories claiming that Cde Kasukuwere and Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa were jostling to succeed President Mugabe.
Yesterday, Cde Kasukuwere said he should be counted out of the imagined race and noted that the reports were mischievous and divisive.
He said he recognised and supported President Mugabe as the sole centre of power.
“I wish to make it categorically clear that I’ve been appointed political commissar and Minister of Local Government and National Housing by President Mugabe to carry out duties and responsibilities which are to build the party and run local councils, and I’m very honoured (for that),” said Cde Kasukuwere.
“I’m very dismayed that some people want to start unnecessary and stupid lies about succession when President Mugabe was elected less than two years ago. I want to dismiss these divisive tendencies and urge people to stop to try and pit one against the other in a non-existent contest,” he added.
A privately-owned newspaper recently ran a story with the headline: “Mnangagwa 2, Kasukuwere 0”, hyping the alleged fallout between the two party and government officials.
But Cde Kasukuwere retorted: “Where was the football match? I’m just a servant and I’m not seeking any office other than those President Mugabe has appointed me to.
“I respect Cde Mnangagwa as my Vice-President and support President Mugabe as the one centre of power.”
Cde Kasukuwere said he was focused on the successful implementation of the Zim-Asset blueprint.
“We won’t accept to be dragged into unnecessary schemes. I’m not part of it. Leave me alone. I’m here to work for President Mugabe,” he said.
President Mugabe has been warning party members against propping some leaders against others as this would create “another Gamatox”, a reference to a cabal led by former Vice-President Joice Mujuru who was expelled along with a host of other top officials for plotting to unconstitutionally depose him ahead of the Zanu-PF congress last December.
Cde Kasukuwere also warned local councils to deliver or be doomed. “The judgment by the Supreme Court that allows people to be fired within three months is actually good,” he told local authority chiefs that met in Nyanga over the weekend where he also commissioned land development bought by Nyanga Rural District Council.
“If you mess up, you go. I’m prepared to fire those who fail to deliver and those who fail to command people to work,” he said.
He urged local authorities to devote time and resources towards the provision of housing to the people and render land barons redundant.
“How can land barons do better than the local authority which has the land and resources?” he challenged.
Online Reporter