'I don't fear Mugabe,' says Mutasa

Expelled Zanu-PF stalwart Didymus Mutasa has declared that he is not afraid of President Robert Mugabe and has warned him to stop taking the disgruntled masses for granted.

Mutasa said Mugabe was still stuck in the colonial era where the will of the masses could be easily manipulated and circumvented. The outspoken politician said it was time Mugabe started listening to the voices of the masses or risk total humiliation through widespread rejection.

"Zimbabwe yachangamuka, haisisiri zvayanga iri kare paya patanga tisati takugona kunyora nekuverenga. (The nation has awakened from its deep slumber; they are no longer gullible as they were back in the colonial era.) We have the highest literacy rate in Africa.

"Saka vakuru (President Mugabe) vedu ngavarege kutibata nekunze kwemaoko. Ndosaka takavaratidza kuti vanoendeswa kucourt. Ndosaka tirikuvataridza kuti hatichavatye, hatitye. (So Mugabe should not treat us like dirt. We dragged him to court to show him that we no longer fear him, we are fearless)," said Mutasa.

The former Zanu-PF secretary for administration broke ties with Mugabe after his long-time friend accused him of siding with the Mujuru faction and angling to topple him from power. He was booted out of the party after its controversial December congress.

Mutasa then took Mugabe to court citing violation of the party's constitution during the congress.

Critics have on numerous occasions accused Mugabe of using fear and intimidating tactics to control his subjects within the party and the nation at large.

Mutasa accused Mugabe of dictatorial tendencies when he created a central source of power that only he controls following amendments to the party's constitution.

"We want leaders of our choice just as what we have been doing before - not leaders who are imposed on us. We elected Mai (Joice) Mujuru, we elected SK (Simon Khaya) Moyo, we also chose Mugabe, John Nkomo and (Joseph) Msika. Now Mugabe has turned and said: 'No I now want to elect people on my own.' Surely is that not normal?" questioned Mutasa.

The former Headlands legislator said they last heard of such dictatorial tendencies during the Ian Smith regime in the colonial era. He vowed to fight Mugabe and his administration until such time as they started to respect the will of the people.

He said he was ready to work with the opposition movement in a bid to bring sanity back into the country. His remarks followed reports that coalition movement spearheaded by Tendai Biti was engaging expelled Zanu-PF stalwarts.

"Yes we are working with them (Biti camp). There is no harm in working with them. Just because we were fighting or did not see eye to eye yesterday, doesn't mean that we can't share the same vision tomorrow.

"We actually thank the opposition because they realised this (dictatorial tendencies) before we did. Yes, we are ready to work not only with Biti but with all opposition parties. The country should wake up and chose leaders of their choice - not imposed leaders," he said.

The veteran politician said the best way to dislodge Mugabe from high horse was to form a formidable force comprising all opposition movements. He said there should be unity of purpose with one common factor: to liberate the country from being plunged back to the colonial era.

Mutasa said progressive politicians should move away from petty and personal politics and focus on the bigger picture.