MDC-T to impeach Mugabe

Zanu-PF Chief Whip Lovemore Matuke has dismissed as daydreaming and wishful thinking, plans by MDC-T led by its Mabvuku-Tafara legislator Mr James Maridadi to table a motion seeking to impeach President Mugabe when Parliament resumes sitting on June 6. Matuke, who is also Gutu Central legislator, accused Mr Maridadi and his party of seeking cheap political mileage and publicity by proposing something that would never see the light of day.

He described Mr Maridadi as an attention seeker who was pursuing a dead project, saying Zanu-PF parliamentarians would never join hands with lackeys of the country's former colonisers and neo- imperialists. He said attempts to embarrass President Mugabe would not succeed.

Matuke's comment were triggered by reports in the News Day issue on Africa Day headlined, "MDC-T, Zanu-PF gang up to oust Mugabe" and claiming Mr Maridadi was leading the team.

The story claimed the impeachment would raise corruption allegations as its basis, and that about 70 ruling party parliamentarians said to be linked to Zimbabwe People First leader Dr Joice Mujuru had pledged to support the motion.

Matuke said such plans were exercises in futility as Zanu-PF was a united family solidly behind its leader President Mugabe. "Zanu-PF ceased to be a political party a long time ago. The ruling party is now a culture and it's mere day dreaming for some people to claim that they want to impeach our President, moreso, with the support of Zanu-PF legislators.

"That is a heap of rubbish and day dreaming. As Zanu-PF, we will not join the MDC-T and (Mr) Maridadi in their day-dreaming,'' he said. "Our President has a clear record that speaks for itself as far as leading this country is concerned.

"President Mugabe does not deserve to be impeached; he should in fact, be given a pat on the back and fully supported for being able to steer the Zimbabwean ship at a time when the country was under threat from illegal economic sanctions that were imposed on our country at the instigation of (Mr) Tsvangirai and his puppet party,'' he added.

Matuke said it was shocking that the MDC-T wanted to push a motion to impeach President Mugabe when the country was at the receiving end of sanctions invited by the same opposition party.

He said the over-subscribed Million Man March held in solidarity with President Mugabe on Africa Day in Harare was clear testimony that Zanu-PF and the majority of Zimbabweans were fully behind the President. "The President's track record since the attainment of independence in 1980 is there for all to see.

"Zimbabwe scored many achievements in various spheres owing to the policies of President Mugabe and that is why Zanu-PF is now a culture. "So for someone to dream that the ruling party will join them or offer support to impeach a man who has done so much for our country to be where it is today is sheer madness,'' said Matuke.

The Gutu Central legislator said the MDC-T and Mr Maridadi were confusing Zimbabwe with South Africa where the opposition tabled a failed motion to impeach President Jacob Zuma.

"Maybe the MDC-T is trying to take a cue from down South (South Africa) but we are two different countries and (Mr) Tsvangirai and his party should know that Zanu-PF cadres value discipline and loyalty to the leadership. So they will never support heaps of rubbish,'' he added.

Matuke said as a sign of its confidence in President Mugabe, the ruling party had already endorsed him as the party's Presidential candidate for the 2018 general elections.

Zanu-PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said the ruling party was not bothered by MDC-T's plans.