'I'm too illiterate to be a minister'

Zanu-PF MP for Buhera South Joseph Chinotimba says he has no ambitions to be appointed a minister, owing to his lack of adequate education, despite being praised by President Robert Mugabe as a "down-to-earth" war veteran.

In an interview with the Daily News yesterday, Chinotimba said while he was exhilarated by Mugabe's remarks, he did not see himself being appointed a minister one day.

Last weekend, Mugabe launched a scathing attack on "boastful" war veterans who flaunted their liberation war credentials, demanding preferential treatment in Zanu-PF, but singled out Chinotimba, whom he described as exemplary.

"I am extremely elated that the president recognises the hard work that I do and that he likes me for that.

"It overjoys everyone, including you when you know your boss is happy with your work but you heard the president talk about the fact that I could not get adequate education, which disqualifies some of us, but I  nevertheless take pleasure in the fact that my boss is happy with me. I will continue on that path," Chinotimba said.

Mugabe's attack on war veterans was interpreted to be aimed at War Veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa — an ardent loyalist of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is currently under the cosh from a Zanu-PF faction that is backing First Lady Grace Mugabe to succeed her 91-year-old husband.

"One of the war veterans who is a good example is (Joseph) Chinotimba. He is down-to-earth. Haashori (he never criticises others) and he is practical. He went to war and missed his education, but he is now a Member of Parliament. People chose him," Mugabe said.

Mugabe's praise for Chinotimba led to speculation that he could be in line to replace the seemingly out-of-favour former ambassador Mutsvangwa, who yesterday received a vote of no confidence from the Mashonaland West province.

But responding to the commendation, Chinotimba said it was wrong for war veterans to look down upon the masses when they played an "equally important role in the liberation of this country".

"As guerrillas during the war, we were the fish that needed water for survival and the masses were the water so there is no way they can be regarded as lesser beings today.

"I do not think that real war veterans have that mentality (of looking down upon the masses) because even Jesus Christ with all that He did for people, He was never boastful."