‘Respect nation’s founding fathers’

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
ZIMBABWEANS should respect the nation’s founding fathers because they have a living legacy, Acting President Phelekezela Mphoko, has said.

Addressing farmers and thousands of Zanu PF supporters at Mkwasine Sugar Estate during a tour of Masvingo province on Thursday, Cde Mphoko said the country should be proud of President Robert Mugabe and the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo – the founding fathers of the liberation struggle.

He said the two founding fathers had a living legacy that many people have benefited from, hence the need to respect them.

The Acting President said land reform is one of the major legacies that can be attributed to the two leaders.

“As Zimbabweans let us learn to respect ourselves as individuals. We’re so important that no one should see a white man as superior. We’ve our late VP Dr Joshua Nkomo and President Robert Mugabe, let’s respect them,’’ he said.

“President Mugabe and the late Dr Nkomo have made sure that people have land and that’s testimony of their legacy as leaders of this country. Western countries have their own founding fathers who are respected.

“President Mugabe is a founding father of politics here. Let’s be proud of ourselves as the British and Americans do.’’

Cde Mphoko deplored corruption and called for the punishment of perpetrators.“We should draw a demarcating line and say anyone who goes beyond this line will lose everything. President Mugabe gave you land to farm but some of you became corrupt when they received money meant to benefit many farmers.

“Corruption destroys the fabric of the nation,’’ he said. ‘‘We don’t ignore your problems as we’re discussing them at Politburo level and as the presidium.

“However, one thing that needs to be addressed is corruption.”

Speaking at the same occasion, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Masvingo, Cde Shuvai Mahofa, said in the event of a farmer dying, his widow should be the automatic heir to the property.

She said greedy family members must not disposses the surviving spouse of the farm and in the event that both parents die, their children stand to inherit the property.