Rugare Gumbo displayed rare courage, hardly seen in Zanu-PF

ZANU-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo last week displayed rare courage, hardly seen in Zanu-PF when he openly told President Robert Mugabe to be wary of divisive elements in the party and to focus more on critical economic matters facing the country.

Mugabe had for the past two weeks been blasting members of a faction allegedly trying to scuttle his wife Grace's ascendancy in party structures.

Just a day after Mugabe returned from China, Gumbo openly told him that he was being misled by "wicked" characters.

In a press statement, bearing the party's logo, Gumbo said there were some elements in Zanu-PF who were advancing a "regime change agenda" through feigning love for the veteran leader yet they harboured sinister motives.

"Zanu-PF won a historic 5-year-mandate to address critical matters of national interest and that is what we should all focus on,"he said.

"Indeed we must all be wary of elements that feign love for President Mugabe and Zanu-PF yet their real agenda is to divert President Mugabe's attention from the core business of government in order to create problems for the party and for President Mugabe in 2018 when elections are due."

"We have always known that there is a regime change agenda in place, only this time it is being pushed by our own people under the guise of loving President Mugabe. This is unacceptable behaviour which smacks of deceit and a very high level of wickedness."

The comments, which set tongues wagging in Zanu-PF, attracted a sharp rebuke from Mugabe who then declared that he was more informed than anybody else in Zanu-PF.

Gumbo is again said to have reportedly told Mugabe openly in the Politburo meeting the same week that he risked being dragged into factional fights within Zanu-PF.

While the matter appeared at the end of last week to be water under the bridge, analysts said Gumbo's pronouncements reflected his fearless character, a trait that could be traced back to the liberation struggle.

Political analyst Ibbo Mandaza, when asked to comment on the character of Gumbo, could only say he was a veteran nationalist and very experienced politician.

"He is a senior nationalist, obviously long in the game and a very experienced politician," said Mandaza.

Another analyst Alexander Rusero said that Gumbo's comments should not be viewed as a challenge to Mugabe but as proper advice coming from a seasoned politician and a strategist who has seen it all politically.

"People like Gumbo came back into the party because of Mugabe's benevolence so they wouldn't utter statements out of frustration. It's a way of advising Mugabe properly to say that as spokesperson, he knows what is happening," Rusero said.

"To Zanu-PF, he has been the best spokesperson who relates well with both the private and public media. The latest statement is an indicator of a dysfunctional structure of communication in Zanu-PF where communications don't take proper channels. As spokesperson, he should be more informed than anyone else on what is happening in the party."

"Whoever ignores Gumbo's advice is doing it at his or her own peril because he is a seasoned politician, a strategist and the only surviving member of the Dare reChimurenga. You can't take anything away from him; he has seen it all."

Political analyst Takura Zha-ngazha said Gumbo has done his part as Zanu-PF spokesperson above board and has pronounced outcomes of meetings without being influenced by factional fights.

"Gumbo has done his job as Zanu-PF spokesperson above board and he is straight forward. He has taken to speaking frankly about outcomes of Zanu-PF politburo meetings and policies," Zhangazha said.

Zhangazha added that in making announcements as spokesperson, Gumbo has rarely spoken with influence from alleged factions but his latest statement was an indication of frustration with the media which had sought to preempt the party positions without official comment.

"He is now stamping his authority on party positions on some matters and reminding the media that he is the spokesperson of the party and also as a warning to factions that he knows what they are doing," Zhangazha said.

Gumbo's frankness and candid comments dates back to the liberation struggle where he was at one time arrested for differing with Mugabe on some issues.

In an interview with The Herald newspaper on the eve of the 1980 general elections, Gumbo narrated how he was detained.

"After Geneva there was a meeting, then it all happened. Mugabe asked me a point blank question. He said, Gumbo, do you want us to dissolve Zanu in order to join the-PF [Patriotic Front] and I said yes, if that is the only way we can unite the people of Zimbabwe because as far as I am concerned, the issue of unity is above party politics. Mugabe said I will never leave Zanu. I will do everything that I can to make sure that we do not unite with Zapu. Shortly after, we were arrested and detained," Gumbo said then.

He was detained with other Zanla officials including Dzinashe Machingura (the late Wilfred Mhanda), Happison Muchechetere (Harry Tanganeropa), the late Jones Jichidza (Sebastian Musabayana), Victor Maunde and Gwarada (Poyter Kaseke).

Those who worked closely with Gumbo during and after the liberation struggle said he was a fearless character, very open and candid in his comments and analysis.

"He is a man who can speak his mind without fear or favour. He is brave and suffered a lot during the war because of his character but never gave up," said a war veteran who worked closely with him.
Gumbo told The Standard on Friday that his duty was simply to issue statements on behalf of the party without adding or subtracting anything.

On his working relationship with Mugabe, Gumbo said: "My working relationship with the President is normal. I am his party spokesperson and work closely with the President from a party point of view."

Earlier this year Gumbo attacked Information minister Jonathan Moyo and Presidential spokesperson George Charamba over Zanu-PF election results in Mashonaland Central and declared that he had the authority and duty to say what the party would have decided on.

Responding to accusations that he was defying Mugabe, Gumbo said: "Those are tricks to try and create a rift between me and the President. But we [him and Mugabe] know each other. We have been in this game for a long time from the 1960s. I would never defy the President because I speak for the party."