President Robert Mugabe has accused former Vice-President Joice Mujuru of plotting to assassinate him, the “Laurent Kabila (late Democratic Republic of Congo President) style” and blamed former Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo for causing havoc in Mberengwa, where he wanted to be the leader ahead of Vice-President Emerson Mnangagwa as leader in the province.
BY STEPHEN CHADENGA/EVERSON MUSHAVA
Mugabe made the sensational remarks last Saturday at a rally in Gweru, where he also accused MDC-T president, Morgan Tsvangirai and his party leaders of committing sins by fighting liberation fighters in a bid to prevent the majority blacks from taking over land.
“She (Mujuru) wanted to assassinate the leader (Mugabe) the late Kabila style and Gumbo was causing havoc in Mberengwa wanting to be ahead of Mnangagwa as leader in the province,” he said.
The President said they had successfully waged the liberation war together with Mujuru and the likes of Gumbo, but they decided to rebel against the party because of leadership positions.
The 91-year-old leader chided Tsvangirai, saying the MDC-T leader could not think for himself, but was using foreigners, particularly from Western countries to fight Zanu PF.
“They don’t even know where they come from and people from outside the country crafted MDC-T to fight Zanu PF, which they said had taken land from them,” Mugabe said at the handover of a Gushungo House built for him by Gweru businesswoman, Smelly Dube in Woodlands Park suburb.
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The Gushungo House chronicles Mugabe’s role in the liberation struggle and was built among residential stands developed by River Valley Properties owned by Dube.
Mugabe, however, said Mnangagwa had never rebelled against his leaders and throughout the address, used from the latter’s slogan, “Pasi nemhandu” (down with enemies), much to the delight of his party supporters.
Commenting on the house donated to him, Mugabe said: “We have been given a nice home so that we may decide to sleep here. Thank you, Mrs Dube. You have set an example to people that we should be hard-working.”
“We were given the home some time ago, but we had not seen it because I was committed.”
Speaking after the ceremony, Dube said he was happy that the President had accepted her offer.
“I am glad that the President has accepted my offer. It is a gesture of gratitude. He empowered us and it’s my small way of saying thank you Mr President. For us to be what we are, it is because of him. He gave us land and he has been advocating for black empowerment,” she said.
The President said Midlands province was united, despite numerous factional fights that had seen some leaders axed in other provinces.
