via I’ve no further ambition: Mphoko | The Herald July 31, 2015
VICE President Phelekezela Mphoko has dismissed claims that he is angling to succeed President Mugabe, insisting that he is content in his current post. The Vice President, appointed last year, said he should not be mixed up in succession plots after becoming a target of anti-Government tabloids. First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe and Zanu-PF national political commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere have also denied similar claims, with Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa also being a target in a scheme which appears designed to cause distrust in the party’s hierarchy.
Mphoko, who is on a tour of developmental projects in Matabeleland South province, told villagers in Maphisa that the values of his party Zanu-PF did not allow him to fight for his leader’s post.
“It has been reported that I’m fighting with (Cde) Mnangagwa over the presidential post. I come from a culture with proper leadership that does not allow us to fight for our seniors’ posts,” the Vice President said.
“I want the people to know that I’m happy with my post as VP and I’m not fighting with Cde Mnangagwa over the presidency.
“President Mugabe is not only our leader, but our father. We therefore respect his leadership and this will never change.”
He said it was unfortunate that people were wasting time peddling lies instead of focusing on more important things that bring development to the country.
“The late Vice Presidents Cdes Joshua Nkomo, Simon Muzenda, Joseph Msika and John Nkomo never gave President Mugabe any problems and this is what we were taught in our party. I have no intentions to give our leader any problems.
“Those who want to be involved in fights for the presidential post are free to do so, but they should leave me alone because I’ve important work to do for the nation as VP.”
Cde Kasukuwere, who is also the Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister, recently distanced himself from the reports, saying he should be counted out of the imagined race.
He said he was there to assist and serve President Mugabe and should not be implicated in any succession plots and speculations.
President Mugabe has warned party members against propping up some leaders over others as this would create another “Gamatox” — a reference to a putschist cabal led by former Vice President Joice Mujuru who was expelled along with other top party officials for plotting to unconstitutionally depose him ahead of the 6th Zanu-PF People’s Congress last December.
VP Mphoko also warned Government officials against corruption, saying they risked losing their jobs.
He said President Mugabe was an honest man who needed loyal people to represent him sincerely and serve the people.
“Let’s do our work in a manner that pleases the President. Abusing the system will not help us at all. President Mugabe is not a dealer or a gambler,” he said.
“He’s an honest man and straight-forward leader who needs people with the same values. When he puts policies, he does it for the country’s benefit.”
VP Mphoko said that those who benefited from the land reform programme should utilise their land to improve food security in the country.
“The Government deployed officials in different departments in the country to do their work and serve the people in their respective areas, but there are some who are busy stealing Government money and resources and shutting people out of their offices.
“I want to warn such officials that we will not hesitate to kick them out if they don’t do their work to develop the nation.”
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