'Mugabe, Smith more or less the same'

Temba Mliswa expelled former Zanu-PF Mashonaland West chairman has said President Robert Mugabe's government is no different from Ian Smith's repressive Rhodesian regime and urged youths to fight to liberate themselves.

In a solidarity message at the launch of the Itai Dzamara Trust Fund in Harare yesterday, Mliswa said he believed in what the missing Dzamara stood for.

He said the time was nigh for youths to fight for what they believe in the same way the current crop of leaders fought for the liberation of the country.

He commended plans by former Vice-President Joice Mujuru to launch a political party to challenge Zanu-PF, but warned without credible reforms, the country would remain difficult to lead.