Kasukuwere celebrated when war vets attacked Mujuru

... now say they are lunatics because they attack him


Zanu-PF Political Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere has been lambasted for calling war veterans who alleged that he was plotting to outs President Robert Mugabe in the view that when the same war veteran attacked former Vice President Joice Mujuru leading to her ouster Kasukuwere celebrated an praised them.

Political commentator Alex Magaisa said the ancestors bequeathed wisdom when they said 'usapembedza n'anga neichabata mai', which literally translated says that be careful not to praise the diviner because he might point to your own mother as the village witch.

"What they meant of course was that you must exercise caution and avoid appluading those causing misery and misfortune to others because this might end up happening to you or others dear to you," said Magaisa. "When these war veterans led their assault on Mujuru and her comrades, these guys were applauding and encouraging them, egging them on to abuse and harass. Now it's their turn to be abused and harassed by the same characters and they are calling them drunk lunatics."

He said do they not also say what goes around comes around?

"They fed this dog on milk, and now it is biting them, just like the ancestors warned in ancient times," said Magaisa.

"This drama is getting very exciting but in Zimbabwe, no matter how sensible you are, mobs nearly always win."

The remarks came amid reports that Zanu-PF infighting appeared to be escalating with Kasukuwere attacking war veterans who had rebuked him over the manner in which he was choosing the party's by-election candidates.

Earlier this week, the ex-fighters lashed out at Kasukuwere accusing him of causing confusion in the party and working with Zanu-PF's foreign enemies.

Led by their secretary-general Victor Matemadanda, the war vets lambasted Kaskuwere saying he was being over ambitious and plotting to unseat the 91-year-old President Robert Mugabe.

But Kasukuwere hit back on Wednesday during a campaign rally in Mashonaland East. The water affairs minister described the ex-fighters as lunatics on too much whiskey.

"You saw some war veterans on TV alleging that I am plotting against the president, don't listen to them, they are drunk. They are confused," said Kasukuwere.

"How do I even think about that? It's foolishness which, as a party, we should not tolerate. They want to cause division within the party, but today we say no.

"I respect war veterans but I have problems with those who jump their mandate and start unnecessary wars. We want unity in the party not the confusion which some want to sow."

The rally was the last campaign stop for Zanu-PF ahead of the May 15 by elections in which David Musabayana will compete against little rivals in Hwedza North.

The constituency fell vacate following the death of Simon Musanhu in January who was Kasukuwere's deputy in government.

The fights in Zanu-PF have broken out following the misunderstanding on who should be the party's candidate for Harare East in the June 10 by-elections between Terence Mukupe and Mavis Gumbo.

Administration secretary Ignatius Chombo, war veterans and the Harare provincial leadership are backing Gumbo but Kasukuwere is supporting Mukupe.

The party's politburo was expected discuss and hopefully resolve address the dispute on Thursday but the meeting has now been postponed