via ‘Mugabe to rule from wheelchair’ – NewsDay November 3, 2015
WAR veterans have declared that they want President Robert Mugabe to continue ruling the country even if he were to be confined to a wheelchair, arguing he does not “need to be an athlete to govern”, as the race to nominate the veteran ruler for the 2018 polls begins.
BY RICHARD CHIDZA
The influential group of former fighters at the weekend said they were preparing to nominate the 91-year-old leader as the ruling party’s candidate for the 2018 presidential elections.
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’
Association (ZNLWVA) secretary-general Victor Matemadanda told NewsDay in an interview that Mugabe was “as fit as a fiddle” and ready to contest.
“As war veterans, this is what we want and we are not going to ask anyone. We are going to nominate him,” he declared.
Asked if at the age of 94 in 2018, Mugabe would still have the energy to run a gruelling election campaign, Matemadanda said they were not interested in a “roadrunner”, but someone who could lead.
“We are not looking for a roadrunner. We are not looking for the best athletes, but for a leader who has the best interests of his people at heart,” he said.
“We are looking for a leader who is level-headed and will support and protect his people. That is what we see in President Mugabe.
“He can rule from a (wheel) chair.”
Mugabe last week stumbled and nearly fell over backwards while attending the India-Africa Summit in the Indian capital, New Delhi.
His critics have been quick to point out that the ageing Mugabe was too old to continue as President and should resign as his health was failing him.
The event was beamed live on Indian television stations, but Mugabe’s spokesman George Charamba described the failure to get over the small dais as “heroic”, while Indian media characterised the incident as “a touching moment”.
Early this year, while returning from an African Union summit in Ethiopia, Mugabe tumbled at Harare International Airport after addressing thousands of ruling party supporters, who had gone to congratulate him for assuming the chairmanship of the continental body.
But a resolute Matemadanda was quick to say Mugabe still had the energy to take him through to 2018 without any problems.
“He is a strong man and if we are lucky to be alive, you and I can bear witness to him being the Zanu PF candidate in that election,” the ZNLWVA leader said.
COMMENTS
“We are looking for a leader who is level-headed…”
More like lopsided – on those pictures we see of him asleep at meetings.
Next it will be a bed. and after that a coffin. Just shows how clueless the present regime is. After that it will be a head stone. They could also let the white ants eat all the flesh off his bones and then be ruled by a skeleton. Wont make much difference to how Zimbabwe is presently run.
What these war veterans are saying has helped me to understand their motive to join the so called war of liberation. It is now becoming clear that these people were not fighting to liberate the homeland from an oppressive regime but they were fighting for one person Robert Mugabe and now his wife Grace what a shame. You are a ‘disgrace’ to say the least and you do not deserve any honour from the masses of Zimbabwe.
Ushe madzoro. Something is wrong with this fellow. He is not talking for the gallant war veterans who sacrificed a lot for our independence. At this rate we need a strong united opposition. The president needs that too. If he had stood down on losing past elections he would have been a respectable elder statesman by now. It is abuse to expect the president to continue the public embarrassment of falling in public, sleeping in public and reading same speeches live on tv. The economy will never improve for as long as the country remains with such a mentality. Mugabe must rest. The electorate has said it loudly and clearly several times. The myopic few with the rule forever mentality do not have the future at heart. Let them dream but the need for change can’t be overemphasized. It is long overdue. It is inevitable. It is an idea that can’t be stopped. Long live democracy! Long live one man one vote. No to gukurahundi mentality. No to looting of state coffers.
I don’t see you adding: No to taking white property.
To the victor go the spoils of war, just a pity not more blacks can profit isn’t it.
“Gallant War Heroe’s”……
We are all losers my countrymen ,all . No matter what colour you are.
We simply need to remove Gushongo and co to the rubbish heap and that is after they return all our stolen monies.PASI NE MUGABE AND ZANU PF.
Grace.
Robert?
Victor said some nice things about me.
Yes dear.
He doesn’t think I am a roadrunner.
Yes dear.
What’s for supper?
Chicken.
Good.
Please do not abuse our President,allow him to rest. I think you are just enjoying doing corruption in front of him because he cannot see anymore
ONLY GOD KNOWS THE DESTINY OF ZIMBABWE.
my God this is scary to say the least.Why do they keep embarrassing the President?The man cannot walk unsupported,he sleeps throguh out the important and even international meetings,infornt of the world cameras,he struggles to go over the smallest step the list goes on.ZANU Leadership need to take a bold and unfamiliar decision and choose a Leader if they have the people s plight at heart.It seems these people have no confidence in their abilities,they even despise themslves,then with such a bunch Zimbabweans should brace themslves for the worst of the worst