Enos Nkala backtracks on 'Mugabe to retire' comments

ENOS Nkala, one of Zanu-PF's founding fathers accused of being part of the Gukurahundi massacres, has distanced himself from media reports that President Mugabe told him he was "tired and wanted to retire."

Mr Nkala, fired from Zanu-PF in the late 1980s, held a 45 minutes private talk with Mugabe at the Joshua Mqabuko International Airport in Bulawayo last Friday.

Quoted in the weekly Standard newspapers yesterday, Mr Nkala said, "From what we discussed, Mugabe said he was tired and wants to retire, but he cannot do so now because Zanu-PF would. He cannot leave when the party is in such a state. What is holding him now is managing and containing Zanu-PF to prevent it from disintegration."

But Nkala has come out and said his "comments" were taken out of context by journalists itching to get a scoop.

"Inevitably when such things come out in the newspapers, it leads to a communication breakdown and loss of confidence in each other. Robert and I are good friend," said Nkala.

"The time has gone but I am shocked he (President Mugabe) is still fit and strong like that. The meeting was meant to revive and renew our friendship. You know when I left the Government and the party ngaba nguNkala nje ozihlaleleyo. We grew up together and we were best friends," said Nkala is quoted today.

"Zanu is my baby. It was born in my house. I authored it and guided it to where it is today. He asked me why I chose to abandon the party that I fathered. We always meet and share these happy moments. It is me sometimes who make provocative statements but I have realised that he is more mature than me," said Nkala.

Asked to comment on Nkala's statements, which political observers say highlight the complexity of Zanu-PF's succession dynamics, Simon Khaya Moyo, the party's chairman, brushed aside the reports.

"It's not true. The president is as fit as a fiddle; he himself only last month said so. He is Zanu-PF's election candidate and is raring to go for elections this year."