ZAPU has urged President Robert Mugabe to resign over his deteriorating health, taking a leaf from the late former Cuban President Fidel Castro, who retired from politics in 2008 due to failing health.
Source: Take a leaf from Castro, step down, Mugabe told – NewsDay Zimbabwe November 29, 2016
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
Zapu spokesperson, Iphithule Maphosa said the opposition party benefited a lot from Castro’s leadership during the liberation struggle and said Mugabe must emulate him and resign due to his old age.
“We also commend and learnt from his wise leadership after he retired when the time for his retirement came. We urge Mugabe to pluck a leaf from Castro and do the right thing and resign over old age and reports of ill health,” he said.
Castro died aged 90 on Friday evening after a long battle with illness. Cuba has declared nine days of national mourning to mark his death.
Castro retired from politics in 2008 over failing health, and his brother, Raul succeeded him as President of Cuba.
Mugabe turns 93 next year and has been endorsed by his party as its 2018 presidential candidate.
He has regularly flown to the Far East to receive treatment, with analysts saying the frequency of the travels is synonymous with people of old age.
His critics have also said his frequent visits to the Far East were draining the cash-strapped country, urging Mugabe to retire and give way to a younger and agile leader.
“Zapu is appreciative of Cuban assistance during the liberation struggle and at this time, Castro was the leader.
It is Castro’s wish to see the world as an equal platform for humanity and human development that he invested his time and resources assisting in the decolonisation of African States.
“Zapu is one of the authentic liberation movements in Africa that got immense assistance from Cuba under Castro and, as such, Zimbabwe became a direct beneficiary of his dream of an Africa free from Western colonisation and dominance,” Maphosa said.
Castro helped lead the Cuban Revolution, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the several United States presidents during his half-century rule.
COMMENTS
You can’t compare Bob Paradzayi Mugabe with Fidel. The man was a true socialist, not fake like Bob & his nasty party. Here’s a man who didn’t want any statues made of him, or any streets named after him, he was a man of the people who tried his hardest to help his people. What’s Bob done for his people, stole money & made him & his party rich, Bob is a thief & oppressor & will always go down in history as a murdering, thieving despot.
Grandpa Mugabe is a cynical, murderous, conniving, thieving, deceitful, selfish animal of the worst order. He is going to f…k this country completely until his last dying day. He is a classic dictator, abit like Castro.
No, animals are full of love and selfless.
Mugabe will never retire, he will just sit in that office and do nothing as long as he flies to anything and everything while back home people have to walk to work.
No comparison between Mugabe and Castro ~ at least Castro showed he cared for his country, Mugabe doesn’t. He cares about his wallet.
Castro was a socialist by volition, the other fellow by deceit. Castro made mistakes, the other fellow created them. Castro faced sanctions, the other fellow imagined them. Castro believed his ideals, the other fellow just talked for convinience. No, the two cannot be compared even if the suffering they brought on their people might be similar. Let’s see what crowds there will be when the other fellow finally departs.