Mugabe now surrounded by corrupt 'weevils'

FORMER war veterans' leader Jabulani Sibanda has urged Zimbabweans to pray for divine intervention to put an end to a "dirty corrupt lot" in Zanu-PF oppressing fellow countrymen and looting State resources.

Sibanda claimed President Robert Mugabe is now surrounded by corrupt "weevils" that have hijacked Zanu-PF, and persecuted the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo during the 1980s.

The firebrand ex-war veterans' leader took a swipe at the Christopher Mutsvangwa-led association, describing it as a militia created by the army to oppress ordinary Zimbabweans.

"Actually corruption, permitted corruption, has created a ruling class in this country," he said in a wide ranging interview.

"Zanu-PF is no longer led by ordinary people, but by individuals that are able to buy votes out of ill-gotten wealth.

"I urge our people to continue praying. Those that can fast will have to do so because God has a way to put this to an end.

"We can only find the way to end this if we seek spiritual eyes and find determination and courage to save the revolution and our country, and contribute to the peace in Africa and to the world."

Sibanda was expelled from Zanu-PF and deposed as war veterans' chairperson during a purge targeting suspected allies of then Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

He courted Mugabe's ire when he said all able-bodied Zimbabweans should resist a "boardroom or bedroom coup", in apparent reference to a plot to unseat Mujuru.

Former VP Mujuru, a number of ministers, Zanu-PF provincial chairpersons and other officials were booted out on charges of planning to topple Mugabe.

However, Sibanda described those behind the purge and now controlling Zanu-PF as a corrupt, repressive and criminal cabal now surrounding Mugabe to loot the nation's resources.

He said Zanu-PF would be cleansed of such a "dirty lot".

"The late (Joshua) Nkomo was loyal to Mugabe, but he was chased away and persecuted by people who today purport to be very loyal to him, but only for their selfish, personal needs and to get positions at the expense of democracy," he said.

"What we see today in Zanu-PF is people wielding power against the people and using the army against the people. I do not believe in such a party. I believe in Zanu-PF that upholds the will of the people, their hopes and aspirations.

"I promise you that Zanu-PF will be cleansed of this dirty lot.

"I may not be there when it happens, but this country will be cleansed of this dirty lot that are destroying the party and the country.
"Our minerals have disappeared.

"Mugabe even once asked where the minerals were. Our minerals have been taken by the same people who are destroying the party from within.

He added: "Corrupt weevils have destroyed our industries, looted diamonds, other minerals and undermined democracy.

"There is no democracy in Zanu-PF and this is all because of these weevils, but the question is for how long will the nation take this nonsense?"

Sibanda described his ouster as illegal, before labelling the Mutsvangwa-led war veterans' association as a military militia, created ostensibly by the army to oppress Zimbabweans.

"Our war veterans' association is an affiliate of Zanu-PF and not the army," he said. "We do not exist anywhere in the Defence Forces Act.

"However, this brand new entity is affiliated to the Defence Forces and they are now using the power of the barracks to threaten war veterans.

"This is not a war veterans' association, but a military militia that has been set up by the army to extend the arm of repression against our people.

"They don't have support and will not have it in the foreseeable future."