'Mugabe is the Vice Chancellor of African dictators'

Africa has been captured by vicious dictators who hindered progress, violated rights of citizens, some maimed and killed fellow countrymen of which President Mugabe is the Pope of this bunch, People's Democratic Party President Tendai Biti has said.

Addressing thousands of PDP structures who gathered at Amphitheatre in Bulawayo to commemorate Africa Day yesterday, the President announced his African dictators' hall of shame.

"We gather here today to celebrate who we are, we do not apologise for being Africans and we celebrate the great work of leaders like Malimu Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkuruma, Samora Machel, Jomo Kenyata and others.

"Today I have a hall of shame, a list of people who spoilt the party by going against the spirit of the liberation of our great continent.

"The list includes Gnassingbé Ayadema who presided over Togo for 38 years, Omar Bongo of Gabon who oppressed his people for decades only to throne his son Ali Bongo Ondimba as his successor, Mobutu Seseko had to be chased away only to die in exile, Idi Amin who maimed and killed his kith and kin, Al Bashir who killed 40 000 people in Sudan now he is uncomfortable getting catching any flight for fear of being taken to the ICC, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo who drowns in cash from oil proceeds in Equatorial Guinea while his people are living in abject poverty, Yoweri Museveni had a constitution with term limits but changed it, he had a constitution with a presidential age ceiling and also changed it."

He said dictators leave their countries on shaky ground at their demise; they become bigger than the state dominating it with both de jure and de facto power.

"The problem with the so-called founding Presidents is that they turn to be bigger than the state they dominate it , they even carry out tasks given to junior officials by the law as a result when they leave the state is never stable for instance in DRC and Somalia."

President Biti told the gathering that Mugabe was the king of this bunch of "little-big man"; his balance sheet reflects mediocrity, recklessness and ruthlessness.

"All these little-big man were evil but Mugabe is the headmaster, he is their Vice Chancellor, Mugabe is the Pope of all African dictators who just but created a crisis that needs dynamic leadership to deal with."  

The President presented a raft of solutions, he urged citizens to put the country first before their personal interests. He said there was no alternative to coalescing and confronting dictatorship as a united force.

"A coalition will give Zimbabweans a fighting chance, we must learn from what the Kenyans did, we must also learn from what the Gambians did," he said.

He said the next election must be fought on issues affecting the people of Zimbabwe because Mugabe is no longer a factor.

"The election agenda must be to create a Transformational Democratic Developmental State which can lift the masses from poverty, this economy can grow at 7% per annum which means a US$100 billion economy in about ten years is possible,' President Biti said.

The President said besides dealing with the economy, a democratic leadership of Zimbabwe needed to deal with the following fundamentals.

    Combat corruption which has placed a premiumon the economy

    Ensure growth is even and inclusive by implementing Devolution of power as enshrined in the constitution

    Rebuild the social contract, successful countries are built on trust

    Complete the unfinished business of the Constitution by repealing the imperial powers of the President

    Ensure there is rule of law by strengthening all the related institutions including

    Put an end to the land question by conducting an ownership audit and giving title to farm occupants to ensure they can borrow and be productive

    Ensure National healing by putting in place the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission

    End Zimbabwe's isolation by proper engagement including aiming for an integrated African continent as envisaged by Kwame Nkrumah.

The meeting rally was also addressed by ZAPU President Dr Dumiso Dabengwa who is also the current CODE chairperson. Dr Dabengwa is a liberation war icon of the highest ilk spoke about the need to unite and fight to rescue the hijacked agenda of African liberation.

Mbuso Fuzwayo a civic society leader representing Ibhetsu LikaZulu also addressed the meeting.

President Biti was accompanied by Deputy President Kucaca Phulu, National Chairperson Lucia Matibenga, Secretary General Dr Gorden Moyo, Deputy Organising Secretary Sengezo Tshabangu, International Relations Secretary Willias Madzimure, National Youth Chairperson Moses Manyengavana and members of the PDP National Working Committee. 

Together Another Zimbabwe is PossiblePDP Communications