News / National
'Margaret Dongo is a malcontent,' says Mutsvangwa
21 Jul 2015 at 06:30hrs | Views
Photo: Margaret Dongo ©margaretdongo.com
War veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa has launched a scathing attacked on ex-Zanu PF member Margaret Dongo describing her as a cantankerous malcontent after the latter described some former fighters leaders as cowards.
Dongo last week attacked war veterans for failing to stand up against being looked down upon by the Zanu-PF government.
The Firebrand democracy activist, Dongo, said war veterans and other liberation struggle stalwarts have an inexplicably pervasive fear of President Robert Mugabe, an unwelcome situation that is giving the nonagenarian free reign to misrule both Zanu-PF and Zimbabwe.
Dongo said Zanu PF had now demonstrated beyond doubt that real heroes were not an issue in the country and could be "forgotten" at the whims of one man and a few of his close minions.
"An independent board should be established to determine the criteria of bestowing hero status. It should be known that heroes are not only those who fought the liberation war, but also those who have made a remarkable contribution to the country.
"That board should comprise liberation war fighters and representatives from all sectors of the community. It should not be monopolised by a single party," Dongo said.
She also pointed to the "absurdity" of the situation whereby in Mugabe's absence there was often a decision-making vacuum, as acting presidents "are powerless and cannot make critical decisions".
"Gushungo should show kuti vakura (Mugabe must know that he is now old) and has to pass on the button stick sooner or later. He should show that by giving power to the acting president to act whenever possible.
"Not zvekuti tinongotonga tichingotonga (not to rule for life) where people even fail to declare a hero. What if there is a crisis while he is travelling, since he is now behaving like Vasco da Gama going around the world in 82 days," Dongo fumed.
"Ndapota, ngavasiye key dzepa national shrine (He must empower his lieutenants to declare hero status) that is if it (Heroes Acre) belongs to the nation. Cdes should remove the fear in them and start to speak out.
"Tirikukanyirwa madhaka pasina mvura yekugezesa (we are being treated like trash by our leaders)," the diminutive former Zanu PF legislator added.
Dongo last week attacked war veterans for failing to stand up against being looked down upon by the Zanu-PF government.
The Firebrand democracy activist, Dongo, said war veterans and other liberation struggle stalwarts have an inexplicably pervasive fear of President Robert Mugabe, an unwelcome situation that is giving the nonagenarian free reign to misrule both Zanu-PF and Zimbabwe.
Dongo said Zanu PF had now demonstrated beyond doubt that real heroes were not an issue in the country and could be "forgotten" at the whims of one man and a few of his close minions.
"An independent board should be established to determine the criteria of bestowing hero status. It should be known that heroes are not only those who fought the liberation war, but also those who have made a remarkable contribution to the country.
"That board should comprise liberation war fighters and representatives from all sectors of the community. It should not be monopolised by a single party," Dongo said.
She also pointed to the "absurdity" of the situation whereby in Mugabe's absence there was often a decision-making vacuum, as acting presidents "are powerless and cannot make critical decisions".
"Gushungo should show kuti vakura (Mugabe must know that he is now old) and has to pass on the button stick sooner or later. He should show that by giving power to the acting president to act whenever possible.
"Not zvekuti tinongotonga tichingotonga (not to rule for life) where people even fail to declare a hero. What if there is a crisis while he is travelling, since he is now behaving like Vasco da Gama going around the world in 82 days," Dongo fumed.
"Ndapota, ngavasiye key dzepa national shrine (He must empower his lieutenants to declare hero status) that is if it (Heroes Acre) belongs to the nation. Cdes should remove the fear in them and start to speak out.
"Tirikukanyirwa madhaka pasina mvura yekugezesa (we are being treated like trash by our leaders)," the diminutive former Zanu PF legislator added.
Source - newsday
