Mugabe too old to rule, must leave office - Gwisai

Former MDC-T Highfield MP Munyaradzi Gwisai yesterday told a magistrates' court President Robert Mugabe must leave office describing the 88-year-old Zanu-PF leader as authoritarian and too old to lead the country.

Gwisai told the Harare Magistrates' Courts yesterday that Mugabe will do well as an advisor to young leaders.

The former parliamentarian who together with five other social activists, are facing charges of inciting public violence said this during cross examination as he mounted his defence against the charges yesterday.

Gwisai was the first to give evidence in defence after Harare magistrate Kudakwashe Jarabini dismissed their application for discharge on February 15.

Prosecutor Michael Reza had asked Gwisai whether he had heard what the second state witness Jonathan Shoko had said alluding to the fact that he had said Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai should go, since Tsvangirai is a stooge of the West.

"That is what Shoko said but I did not say that. What I believe is that President Mugabe has served for over 30 years as Prime Minister and President, he has just turned 88.

"In all republic democratic principle starting with the Roman aristocracy of the fifth century BC, in order to deter political abuse by individuals there are caps on terms of leaders and indeed our society starting with the rejection of the 2000 referendum coming to this by Copac, there is general consensus that no leader must serve for more than two terms," said Gwisai.

"President Mugabe must go. He has served his time and in the new constitution, we must ensure that no leader serves for more than two terms and no leader who is above the normal Public Service Commission retirement age of 70 must serve in the public office, let alone in the president's office."

In addition Gwisai said, "It is no coincidence that in all the richest and powerful nations in the world today, from China to America, from Germany to Britain, their leaders are less than 55 years of age.

"The role of elderly statesmen and politicians like President Mugabe, Mandela and Kaunda is to retire in peace and advise the young leaders of their time."

Reza told Gwisai that the meeting leading to his arrest was meant to incite public violence and remove Mugabe from power.

"Are you aware that he was democratically elected, he did not impose himself?" asked prosecutor Reza.

Gwisai responded saying: "I am not aware of that, no less than a person like the President himself has called for elections this year because the Global Political Agreement is a result of a political agreement and not the mandate of the people."

Asked about his basis of calling for Mugabe's departure, yet he was voted into office by millions of Zimbabweans, Gwisai declared: "The only election which was duly affirmed with democratic principles is the election of March 2008 in which President Mugabe came second to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, so I don't know which millions of Zimbabweans you are talking about."

Gwisai further told the court that the June 2008 elections were not in line with democratic principles since they were marred by violence hence they were a nullity.

This prompted prosecutor Reza to ask him if he had a court order showing that the elections were nullified.

"I have a right as a Zimbabwean national to say my opinion," said Gwisai who questioned why Mugabe was so keen on elections before his term expired if he was democratically elected.

Reza told Gwisai that the video footage they watched on the Egyptian and Tunisian revolutions was meant to incite the people of Zimbabwe and give them an impression that they can as well remove the government through a revolution.

Gwisai said Egypt's former President Hosni Mubarak resigned and saluted the youths, which is why some senior police officers are currently on trial in the country for trying to thwart the people's will.

Reza likened Gwisai to Argentine Marxist revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara, the Argentine revolutionary, before telling him that he has a split personality.

Reza said Gwisai's real name was Enock Chikweche and that is the name that appears on his Grade Seven and Ordinary Level certificate.

Gwisai told the court that he had changed his name through the legal process, and could not continue using his old name after the process.

Gwisai is jointly charged with Antonater Choto, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Edson Chakuma, Hopewell Gumbo, and Welcome Zimuto.

The group was initially charged with treason before the state later settled for a lesser charge of conniving to incite public violence.

Reza closed the state's case on February 1 after calling four witnesses.

Gwisai was arrested together with 44 others after watching video footages of revolutions that took place in Egypt and Tunisia leading to the deposition of long-serving leaders in those countries.

The state alleged the group used the video footages to mobilise the people to revolt against the government and demand the resignation of Mugabe on February 19 last year.

The state later dropped charges against the other 39 in March last year leaving Gwisai and five others, to answer to charges of inciting public violence.