News / National
FLASHBACK: Ndabaningi Sithole vs Robert Mugabe
10 Jul 2016 at 11:19hrs | Views
Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole, a veteran politician who helped lead Zimbabwe's struggle for independence, is due in court Monday accused of being linked to a plot to assassinate the country's president Robert Mugabe.
In an interview with APTV, Sithole accused Mugabe, once his ally, of trying to weaken him ahead of next year's election. He says the charges are politically motivated.
Ndabaningi Sithole was arrested on October 14th after two men were charged with conspiracy to commit murder and engage in acts of terrorism and sabotage.
The state alleges it was on this stretch of road, near the capital Harare, where Sithole planned to carry out the ambush.
In the preliminary court hearings he has been accused of recruiting armed dissidents to overthrow the government.
Sithole denies any involvement in the plot and has accused Mugabe of trying to weaken him in before of next year's presidential elections.
Sithole's small opposition Zimbabwe African National Union Ndonga Party holds the only two opposition seats in the 150-seat Harare parliament.
"Why do you think Mugabe fears you so much?"
"Because he knows I am a capable man. He knows that very well. All these things he is trying to do, he's trying to implement, we have more dictatorial way taking root in this country. For instance, you take people who disappear from time to time at the instigation of Mugabe and his colleagues. This disappoints anyone. I would be dishonest with myself if I say I was not disturbed by that.
"The presidential election has motivated him to try and weaken me as much as possible. It doesn't hold any water. For instance, they have apparently arrested me before collecting evidence. Now they are trying to collect evidence to make their case stick."
Sithole helped found Mugabe's governing party in the 1960s and served a nine year prison term in Rhodesia, as Zimbabwe was known, for recruiting guerillas to fight the white minority government.
He split from Mugabe in the run up to independence in 1980, and has pledged to contest presidential elections next year.
In an interview with APTV, Sithole accused Mugabe, once his ally, of trying to weaken him ahead of next year's election. He says the charges are politically motivated.
Ndabaningi Sithole was arrested on October 14th after two men were charged with conspiracy to commit murder and engage in acts of terrorism and sabotage.
The state alleges it was on this stretch of road, near the capital Harare, where Sithole planned to carry out the ambush.
In the preliminary court hearings he has been accused of recruiting armed dissidents to overthrow the government.
Sithole denies any involvement in the plot and has accused Mugabe of trying to weaken him in before of next year's presidential elections.
"Why do you think Mugabe fears you so much?"
"Because he knows I am a capable man. He knows that very well. All these things he is trying to do, he's trying to implement, we have more dictatorial way taking root in this country. For instance, you take people who disappear from time to time at the instigation of Mugabe and his colleagues. This disappoints anyone. I would be dishonest with myself if I say I was not disturbed by that.
"The presidential election has motivated him to try and weaken me as much as possible. It doesn't hold any water. For instance, they have apparently arrested me before collecting evidence. Now they are trying to collect evidence to make their case stick."
Sithole helped found Mugabe's governing party in the 1960s and served a nine year prison term in Rhodesia, as Zimbabwe was known, for recruiting guerillas to fight the white minority government.
He split from Mugabe in the run up to independence in 1980, and has pledged to contest presidential elections next year.
Source - youtube
