Mugabe likened to Jesus

ZANU-PF provincial chairman for Bulawayo Killian Sibanda has likened President Robert Mugabe's predicament to that of Jesus Christ who was betrayed and persecuted by the people he had served.

Speaking during a party meeting at Eveline High School in the city on Saturday, Sibanda described Mugabe as a man of integrity and good social standing who was like the biblical Jesus.

He said according to the Bible, Jesus performed numerous miracles, including raising Lazarus from the dead, but was persecuted despite all the good that He had done for His people.

"Jesus' people forgot what their leader had done for them," said Sibanda.  "They disowned Him and demanded that He be crucified on the cross. Just like Jesus, President Mugabe fought for his people when he struggled with the whites to give the land and its riches back to the people of Zimbabwe, who are the rightful owners."

Sibanda, said it was, however, unfortunate that some Zimbabweans were ungrateful for the role played by the veteran politician, who has led the country since 1980, and were now allegedly
helping the President's enemies fighting to remove him from office.

Sibanda said the economic problems faced by Bulawayo were a result of sabotage by some white capitalists angered by the land reform programme introduced in 2000.

"It happened that in 2008, the whites took a lot of money from factories and companies and they deposited that money in banks so that when Mugabe lost the elections and (MDC-T leader Morgan) Tsvangirai took over, they would  withdraw the money and revive their  companies," said Sibanda.

However, Sibanda said, that strategy failed as Mugabe "won" the elections.

Mugabe was beaten by Tsvangirai in the first round of the presidential election in March 2008, but the then opposition leader did not garner enough votes to assume the Presidency, forcing a run-off.

Tsvangirai withdrew from the June runoff citing violence against members of his party, culminating in a unity government brokered by Sadc.