Mugabe castigates Mutsvangwa for hidden agenda

In a State of the Nation Address at State House in Harare today, President Robert Mugabe castigated Mutsvangwa for organising an illegal demonstration without informing the party leadership and government.

"Mutsvangwa did not inform me, the VPs or security ministers about the war veterans meeting. We take exception to that, he (Mutsvangwa) has acted in a manner we describe as irresponsible, completely irresponsible," said President Mugabe.

Mugabe, who is also the patron of the war veterans association apologised for the ill-treatment of war veterans some of them who were unfortunately tear-gased by the police, saying the blame lies squarely in their chairman and minister (Mutsvangwa).

"People were naturally hurt or at least they had this water from cannons come on their bodies and teargas as well. Mutsvangwa bears responsibility for inviting war veterans to an illegal meeting, he abused his authority as Minister in the gravest way possible, we take exception to that," the President said.

He however, demanded that Mutsvangwa as the Minister of War Veterans should explain his intended hidden agenda to mobilise such a demonstration without following proper channels.

"Mutsvangwa being a Minister cannot at the end, after police have taken action against an illegal meeting, complain that he was ill-treated," President Mugabe said.

Mugabe said the party and government will not hesitate to take action against Mutsvangwa's unbecoming behaviour which he described as a disgrace to the nation.