'Zanu-PF unstoppable,' says Mnangagwa

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday described Zanu-PF as a united and formidable party that will stand the test of time because of its unmatched long history in fighting for the cause of ordinary Zimbabweans. He said those who try to instigate rebellion within the ruling party would fall by the wayside while it continues with its dominance on the local political scene.

Addressing mourners at the burial of liberation war hero and Central Committee member Tobias Joram Jaboon at Sengai Village in Mkanganwi communal lands in Bikita yesterday, VP Mnangagwa mocked other political parties for their propensity to fragment into innumerable political outfits. He said Zanu-PF would never disintegrate, warning, however, that all those who did not toe the party line would be flushed out.

"Zanu-PF is a united and formidable party that has a sterling track-record in carrying out programmes that dovetail with the wishes of the majority and it is up to you to choose which party to follow,'' he said. "I want to tell you today that Zanu-PF is a tried and tested party that has weathered many storms. Other parties especially the MDC, have been splitting and we now have many MDCs like MDC (Morgan) Tsvangirai, MDC (Welshman) Ncube and many others yet Zanu-PF continues to march on like a big elephant united under the leadership of President Mugabe.

"In Zanu-PF, those who refuse to follow the party are shown the exit door,'' he added. VP Mnangagwa paid tribute to Zimbabweans for remaining solidly behind President Mugabe and Zanu-PF despite the imposition of illegal sanctions by Western nations. He said by sticking with Zanu-PF even in the face of punitive sanctions, Zimbabweans showed the world that they supported the revolutionary party's drive for indigenous people to control their God-given resources.

"The West imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe so that people could suffer and blame the Zanu-PF Government for their suffering. But I am happy that the majority of Zimbabweans continue to vote for Zanu-PF which clearly means our people want complete control of their resources.'' VP Mnangagwa said it was important for every Zimbabwean to introspect to establish what they were doing to make sure the country develops and keeps its heritage.

Both living and fallen heroes of Zimbabwe's war of independence played their part in making sure Zimbabweans gained complete control of their resources principally land. "It is shocking that we have some people within our midst who are even prepared to invite foreigners so that they come into this country and control our resources. My question is, why is it that people in those countries are not inviting us to go and take control of their resources?'' he said.

He said Zimbabwe could only develop if people worked in unison while at the same time jealously guarding the gains of independence. He paid tribute to Zanu-PF leaders who have remained loyal to the party. "We have some people like (Mr) Rugare Gumbo who have always been rebels even before independence. During the war of liberation he rebelled against the leadership and we had to keep him in an underground pit while we continued fighting. After independence President Mugabe forgave him and gave him another chance. He rebelled again,'' said VP Mnangagwa.

VP Mnangagwa paid homage to Jaboon for remaining consistent from the days he started his political activism in 1957 that saw him being jailed by the colonial regime for two years. Jaboon, who was also a member of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association national executive passed on last Wednesday at Nyika Growth Point after breathing complications.

He was 79. He is survived by his wife, 11 children, 22 grandchildren and two great grand children. Top Government, Zanu-PF and army officials among them Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Senator Shuvai Mahofa, Politburo member Josaya Hungwe and Major-General Engelbert Rugeje attended the burial.