'MDC-T too violent to be in Government,' says Mugabe

President Mugabe says MDC-T is synonymous with violence and such a party should not be allowed to get into Government.

The President said this in his address to thousands of people who packed Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera yesterday to celebrate the 28th edition of the 21st February Movement that also coincided with his 90th birthday.

President Mugabe's remarks come in the wake of the assault of MDC-T deputy treasurer, Mr Elton Mangoma, by youths last week allegedly at the instigation of Mr Morgan Tsvangirai - the party's leader.

"We cannot have a party of that nature coming into Government - even allowing them to have seats to dominate possession of Parliamentary seats in our urban areas - Harare, Bulawayo," he said. "That is wrong."

According to the Herald, President Mugabe said youths should be more in the party and should listen to its leaders. He said the best that a youth could do if he or she was wronged was to report the matter to other senior members of the party.

"You have read about violence at the headquarters of (Morgan) Tsvangirai's party," he said.

"Mayouths achirova maleaders avo.  Fungai, just think of that. Our youths and their leaders stand in the same analogous manner as children and parents.

"You do not raise your hand to hit your senior. Never, ever. You may quarrel but the best you can do is to go and complain about your senior if your senior is wronging.  But for you kuti uburitse chibhakera - wadhakwa nedoro kani. Asi vanogara vakadhakwa mayouths ekwavaTsvangirai?"

He said there was a clear distinction between Zanu-PF and MDC-T youths. President Mugabe also blamed Mr Tsvangirai for his alleged complicity in the whole matter and pretending not to be aware of what was happening.

"So you can see the trained, disciplined and experienced youths yedu," he said. "Their behaviour, they are distinct, contrasted with the behaviour of the hooligans that Tsvangirai is running and iye pachake ndiye anonzi akati kumayouths saa varovei. Wonyarara uku wochema nevarohwa kuti aah tine hurombo, tine hurombo iwe uriwe wavasaidzira? That is not done."

President Mugabe challenged Zanu-PF youths to exploit such inadequacies in the MDC-T to take Parliamentary seats held by the embattled party in urban centres.

He said Zanu-PF had the tact to win those seats. "The enemy does not know how we do it," he said. "We will not tell our tactics to the enemy.

"Let them keep guessing but we can do it. But let the leaders of these two cities Harare and Bulawayo - open up. Harare hainganzi ndeyemaZezuru chete, Bulawayo hainganzi ndeyemaNdebele chete, there are lots of other people, lots of other people from other tribes working there and those in leadership who have served long and they are producing no results.

"They must now give way and allow other leaders to take over. Matadzaka kupindura zvinhu mumadhorobha? So give way. Regai vana (Ray) Kaukonde vapinde ikoko."

Turning to the issue of unemployment, the President said Government had initiated programmes such as indigenisation and empowerment to ensure that youths also become employers.

He said it was important for the youths to understand Zim-Asset and support it. Should the economy, grow, the President said, it would create employment. President Mugabe expressed hope that the youths shared the same vision of growing the economy with Government.