‘Zanu-PF not planning to rig elections’

Garikai Mazara and Tinashe Farawo in Mutare
ZANU-PF is not planning to rig the harmonised elections set for Wednesday next week as alleged by MDC formations but the experience gained by the revolutionary party over the past three decades, however, points to a resounding victory. President Mugabe who was addressing close to 25 000 people who gathered at the Aerodrome grounds in Mutare yesterday, said  contrary to misguided posturing by the MDC formations, Zanu-PF has never rigged elections.

“We are not having elections for the first time, we are not political starters, we have never had rigged elections before and we don’t rig elections,” said Cde Mugabe.

The President said it was evident that the MDC formations were politicking when it comes to vote rigging as they could not back their claims with evidence.

Cde Mugabe said what was clear was that the MDC formations were running scared because Zanu-PF win was beckoning given the revolutionary party’s experience since 1980.

The President implored the people of Manicaland not to repeat the mistakes of 2008 “when people forgot that thousands and thousands of sons from this province sacrificed their lives to liberate this country.

“Takakanganisa, ehe zvinoitika asi let’s not forget that sons of this province, like Herbert Chitepo, sacrificed their lives for our independence. It was a mistake in 2008 and we should not let it happen again. The MDC was a creation of the Westminster Foundation, which in itself was a coming together of three political parties in Britain, the Labour Party, the Conservatives and the Liberals. Imagine three British political parties coming together to fight us. But we had a history, dating back to the days of the ANC, dating back to Mbuya Nehanda and you cannot change a revolution.

Vaida kuchinja, asi revolution haichinjike.
“Chipuka ichocho chakavakwa nemaBritish chinotauka sechura, apo neapo. Then we drew comparisons with our home-grown parties, from the days of the ANC, the Democratic Party, then Zapu, Zanu then we said no, no. Asi chipuka ichocho chakamedza maseats makumi maviri kuno kuManicaland muna2008. Tirikuda kuti chirutse maseats iwayo.

“Kana muri pakuchirutsisa maseats iwayo, ndinenge ndinemi, takakanganisa, zvinoitika.”
The President narrated the background to the formation of the inclusive government and said the MDC wanted to bite more than they could chew.
“Takavapa nguva, vakati tipei finance tichibvuma zvedu, vakati tipei economic planning tichibvuma zvedu. Vakati defence. Takati, ah defence kwete. Kuti makarwa honde here?”

Before addressing the huge gathering, the President had officially opened St Noah High School in Mafararikwa, which was named after Noah Taguta, the leader of Johanne Marange Apostolic Church.

President Mugabe then addressed the contentious issue of Manicaland’s diamonds.
“Madiamonds ari kubva kuMarange, through the community share ownership scheme, vekuMarange should benefit more nokuti ndivo vane maroads anotsikwa-tsikwa, ndivo vanobviswa mumisha yavo, so they should benefit more. Ko vekuNyanga vanozoitwa sei?

“A certain percentage goes to the national purse, which will benefit other communities. But we are saying local companies should be supported by the mining companies, for instance polishing should be done here.”

He added that if Zanu-PF is voted into office again, they will forge ahead with indigenisation and empowerment policies.
“We need to empower our youths and women, and indigenisation is a process to give us jobs. We are saying let’s have 51 percent in the big companies. But even that 49 percent for them is too generous, though here and there we need foreign investment, we mustn’t rely solely on foreign funds. We have built schools, our children are educated. We are being admired that we have the best literacy rate in Africa at 91 percent. Even South Africa tinoikunda, Equatorial Guinea is in second place at 86 percent. But if you go to South Africa, our children are there, in the hotels, in the big businesses . . . given that scenario havatimukire here? Ndosaka vachizotimukimira dzimwe nguva. So let’s build our own companies, with 50-50 local ownership, so that no funds go outside, employment is created and it is development that we are proud of.”

The President went on to castigate Zimbabweans who are living in the Diaspora but have got nothing to show for it.
“We have nurses in Britain, wese aida kubuda munyika aingopa mhosva kunavaMugabe, vari kutiza munyika hanzi VaMugabe, hanzi kune njodzi kumusha ndiri kuda kubatwa. So I became a passport, waingoti “Mugabe”  wonzi pinda. Even Mai Banana when she wanted to stay with her sons, hanzi vaMugabe. But honestly what could we do to the wife of a former president.

“Saka tiri kuti kune vanhu ivavo, une nyika yako, makarwira nyika yenyu, kwave kuenda kukanyika kanotonhora, kuti zvinzi wakaenda kuEngland chete, wongouya kuzofira kuno chete? Ngativei vanhu vanovimba  nezvavari, let’s create jobs for our kids. We have mining engineers, and the mines are there.”

President Mugabe also took time to remind the electorate on the insincerity of the MDC formations. “We were give $500 million to resuscitate our industry by the IMF through the special drawing rights. But they said we will keep the money for elections and today we don’t even know where the money is, not even a cent. They have homes in South Africa and they go there every weekend. Isu vaMugabe tinenge tirimuno.”

The President also took time to remind American president, Barack Obama, of his African-ness. “Then we have this American president, Obama, born of an African father, who is saying we will not give you aid if you don’t embrace homosexuality. We ask, was he born out of homosexuality? We need continuity in our race, and that comes from the woman, and no to homosexuality. John and John, no; Maria and Maria, no. Kana zvirizvo, tovavharira five years mumba imwe, murume nemurume, vobuda vane vana two. If they dont, we will cut their heads off.

“Ndoimwe nyaya yavakandivengera. I told them they are worse than dogs and pigs, yes worse than dogs and pigs. I keep pigs and the male pig knows the female one, haudzimanikidze, dzinozivana, chero shiri dzesango . . . vanhu vokurirwa pfungwa nemhuka? They have a whole community of gays  advocating human rights? Unhu ipapa huri payi? Kuno uku hatidi, hatidi, hatidi. Munoziva zvekuita navo.”

President Mugabe once again called on Zimbabweans to remain peaceful in the run up to the elections that are only a week away.
“I urge all of you to observe peace, there are only seven days to go. Let us be united in our party and unity should be based on the understanding that other groups have their own programmes, but our programme is number one. In that competition there should be no fighting.”

Ambassador John Shumba Mvundura, the acting provincial chairman for Manicaland, promised the President that all the 26 seats in province will be won by Zanu-PF saying all those who had expressed interest in standing as independents had since withdrawn their candidatures, showing that unity has returned to the province.