Cde Chimene could have done better

For once this writer totally concurs with the Minister of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Political Detainees and Restrictees, Cde Tshinga Dube on how he perceives President Robert Mugabe.

During the war veterans meeting at Zanu PF Headquarters on Wednesday, Cde Dube said while some people saw age in Cde Mugabe, he saw wisdom in same. Indeed, this writer sees nothing but wisdom in President Mugabe. The manner in which he reacted to the war veterans issue and accusations that some comrades hipped on Vice President, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, is a telling manifestation of rare wisdom.

We thought the authorities had said they had set up an enquiry to establish the origin of the damning communiqué. Therefore, calling for an indaba to shoot in the air, defeated the essence of that investigation. We thought the reason why that investigation was instituted is that there was no sureness on the origin and circumstances surrounding the communiqué.

Cde Maindiitawepi Chimene bluntly told thousands of Zanu PF supporters that Cde Mnangagwa was the head of a faction known by the moniker, Lacoste. By insinuation Cde Chimene saw the hand of Cde Mnangagwa in the drafting of the communiqué. The Vice President has been accused of maintaining his silence while his name is dragged in the mud. Indeed, it's an error on his part but on this issue he broke his silence and rubbished the communiqué that calls for the stepping down of President Mugabe, as nonsensical.

Now it is quite confusing for the Vice President. After he has spoken out this time around the likes of Cde Chimene continues to lambast him. Whether he speaks or keeps mum, the story remains the same. Perhaps Cde Mnangagwa must take heed of the advice he was given, that of suing people who soil his name. The first law suit must be against those who are baselessly accusing him of trying to topple President Mugabe.

Even if the communiqué was written by war veterans, they are not all of them who are rogue. Thus, a wholesale blame on the war veterans is not fair. Most of those who were suspected distanced themselves from the communiqué. If that is anything to go by, then the hand of an enemy of ZANU (PF) cannot be ruled out.

Even President Mugabe suspects that there could be a fifth column involved in the communiqué. President Mugabe warned supporters not to rush to conclusion without material evidence. He is a veteran politician and a father figure who knows for sure that detractors are capable of spinning such propaganda.

"Now ndinoda kuti mukaona kwedu uku kumawar veterans tongorega kuti tisati taona chokwadi kuti haa uyu ndiye mukuru wazvo, uyu ndiye arikuita zvakati. Nguva iripo wonai zvinhu mova nekuchenjera kuti vavengi vanoda kuti  divider pakati pedu vachisevenzesa mazita edu nenzira dzisiri idzo," said Cde Mugabe.

President Mugabe went on to preach about unity within the party and nation. That is the wisdom that we all look for in a leader. He did not succumb to pressure from Cde Chimene who seemingly wanted the President to immediately expel Cde Mnangagwa from his post.  

We are not trying to muzzle Cde Chimene for it is her democratic right to do so. However, it is the type of bluntness that she was supposed to say behind closed doors.  It is understood that they had a briefing with the President before they addressed the public. The briefing was the right platform to utter these statements. Denigrating a Vice President, without solid evidence, before children and very junior cadres sets a very bad precedent for our youths. Cde Chimene taught the youths that an elder can be attacked willy-nilly. Our fear is that if such anarchy is not checked, it will even creep to the President.

 While we were growing up, we never heard or saw our parents fighting. Not that they did not fight but they did that away from us and they would make sure their quarrels are out of children's sight and hearing. On Wednesday, children witnessed one parent fighting the other. Unfortunately the victim had no opportunity to fight back. It was not the first time that Cde Mnangagwa was publicly attacked by very junior cadres. He was subjected to a similar diatribe from Cde Sarah Mahoka in May this year at the same venue. Probably the VP understands that if you argue with a fool, he will drag you into mud where he will beat you with experience.

If the communiqué was indeed the work of detractors, they are currently having a bash on cloud nine seeing the revolutionary party burning. The hand that drafted that communiqué will surely get promoted for Zanu PF has played into their spin. Zanu PF is abetting in the achievement of detractors' objectives.

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John Sigauke <johnsigau@gmail.com