Mugabe brews another storm

via Mugabe brews another storm by Patrice Makova – The Standard

Mugabe yesterday vowed that members of the MDC formations would never be buried at the heroes Acre, saying the shrine was only reserved for Zanu PF cadres.

Speaking at the burial of Zanu PF politburo member, Kumbirai Kangai, Mugabe said the MDC-T officials clamouring for their members to be buried at the National heroes’ acre were day-dreaming.

He said the national heroes acre was a preserve of Zanu PF-linked officials only. Mugabe said political parties which supported the imposition of sanctions against Zimbabwe had no right to call for their officials to be buried at the national shrine.

“They [MDC-T] want their zvitototo [daft people] buried here. We say no. The only people we will bring here are the clean ones. Heroes of heroes,” he said.

“We created this Heroes Acre and paid a lot to make it beautiful. They must choose their own burial places.  The country has many anthills where they can bury their officials.”

Mugabe likened MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai to people in the Bible who supported the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

MDC officials could not be reached for comment.

Last week, Mugabe threatened to punish urban dwellers especially those in Harare and Bulawayo, for ditching him in the July 31 election, a threat that was widely condemned.

In less than seven days, Mugabe paid three visits to the shrine. On Sunday he officiated at the burial of National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) general manager and Zanu PF strategist, Mike Karakadzai.

On Thursday, he was back again for the burial of Zanu PF founding member, Enos Nkala. He said leaders should not be selfish, but work for the empowerment of the majority.

Mugabe said leaders should not self-enrich themselves.

“Let us not be greedy and loot everything that comes along our way,” he said in an apparent reference to corrupt Zanu PF officials, particularly former cabinet ministers.

Mugabe also made a thinly veiled attack on devolution which is now provided for under the new constitution.

He said no province should claim total ownership and revenue from natural resources endowed there.

“Resources found in any area should benefit the whole country. No province should claim exclusive rights to resources found there,” said Mugabe.

He also attacked Zanu PF leaders who have become alcoholics.

“Don’t be drunkards. There are some of you who stagger in public because of drinking too much beer. This is not leadership,” said Mugabe.

The Zanu PF leader again spoke of the July 31 elections which his party won resoundingly.

He insisted that although critics were saying the elections were not credible, the environment was free and peaceful with no disturbances recorded.

Mugabe said the 2013 elections could not be compared to the 1980 ones administered by the British disputed.

“The British themselves never had an election [2013] of this nature. They beat each other on the streets.  At some places they throw rotten eggs.  Our elections were absolutely quiet and people voted in a very calm atmosphere,” he said.

But as the debate about his age rages on a month after winning a seventh term in office, Mugabe yesterday continued to mesmerise his supporters with his recollection of historical events at the burial of Kangai.

Mugabe said he and other Zanu PF leaders such as Kangai survived several attempts on their lives including bomb and grenade attacks in the run up to the 1980 elections.

“All the same, we won the elections,” he said.

Mugabe spoke of the internal struggles in Zanu which saw at least two rebellions being staged.

He said the first one, dubbed the Nhari Rebellion, was led by misguided officials. Mugabe said the other one calling itself Vashandi led by the likes of former Zanla commander Wilfred Mhanda, popularly known as Dzino, wanted to cause confusion in the liberation struggle. He said the group wanted Mugabe and other leaders to make individual applications and be vetted before being allowed to come to the war front in Mozambique.

He said after the failed Geneva 1976 talks, he and others tricked leaders of Vashandi into coming for a meeting in Beira, Mozambique where they were arrested only to be released in 1980.

Mugabe said the arrest enabled the Zanu leaders such as Zanla commander Josiah Tongogara and Kangai to finally visit the war camps previously under the control of the rebels.

Mugabe also spoke in detail about the Zanu PF’s Dare reChimurenga (revolutionary council) where the likes of Kangai, Zanu chairman Hebert Chitepo, Zanla chief Josiah Magama Tongogara and Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo were members.

He said the revolutionary council was tasked by the Zanu executive with the responsibility of prosecuting the liberation struggle.