CHIREDZI — Former Zimbabwe Sugar Milling Industry Workers’ Union (ZISMIWU) secretary-general Admore Hwarare launched a scathing attack on Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa for allegedly failing to defend Zanu PF officials who had supported his candidature during the ill-fated Tsholotsho declaration in 2004.
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Hwarare said given that background, any attempts by Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe would hit a brickwall as his backers then still hold bitter memories of how they were let down and suspended from the party for being part of the plot.
Speaking during a heated meeting in Chiredzi on Sunday, Hwarare vowed to derail Mnangagwa’s succession bid.
Other delegates at the meeting included Labour deputy minister Tapiwa Matangaidze, Zanu PFMasvingo provincial chair Amasa Nhenjana, officials and stakeholders in the sugarcane industry.
“I was part of the team that met in Tsholotsho, and he (Mnangagwa) allowed for me and several party officials to be expelled and yet we had gathered there to scheme his bid to land the vice-presidency (ahead of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru). He leads a faction and now wants to use that faction to succeed President Robert Mugabe. I would want to assure him that people in this area will not back him,” Hwarare said, digressing from the agenda of the meeting which was to discuss problems affecting the sugar industry.
He was later cautioned by Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions secretary-general Kenias Shamuyarira and ordered to stick to the agenda.
“As ZFTU, we are an ally of Zanu PF. We do not know about factions. I respect the President and his two Vice-Presidents because they were elected by the people, but that is not why we are here. We are here to discuss why workers did not pitch up for the celebrations. It is because of the problems they are facing,” Shamuyarira said.
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Matangaidze also urged the participants to steer clear of Zanu PF internal politics and factionalism, but to concentrate on the agenda of the meeting.
Speaking at the same meeting, Nhenjana said party officials wanted to appreciate issues affecting the workers and at the same time drum up support for Mugabe.
