Opinion / Interviews
The Rugare Gumbo Q&A
20 Nov 2014 at 03:38hrs | Views
RUGARE Gumbo (RG), a 74-year-old Zanu-PF stalwart, whose standing in the revolutionary movement dates back to the liberation struggle, and is the only surviving member of the ZANU Dare reChimurenga which planned the war while President Robert Mugabe and other leaders were in prison, was last week suspended for five years on accusations of plotting against the President.
For weeks, since the onslaught on Vice President Joice Mujuru on allegations of factionalism, corruption, abuse of office, Gumbo, who has been the party's spokesperson, had stood firm in her corner garnering attacks of his person in the process. With this suspension, he becomes one of the highest heads to be claimed by the numerous purges against Mujuru allies.
The Financial Gazette News Editor, Maggie Mzumara (MM), caught up with Gumbo this week to get a take on his fate thus far and going forward.
MM: What now, sir? What is next for you?
RG: Nothing. I will just sit on the terraces and watch the ball being played.
MM: What do you make of that ball?
RG: I don't know. Until the players play it, until the match is played, only then can one tell for sure.
MM: Do you think the ground is level in that match?
RG: I don't know. It is the players who can determine that.
MM: Given the allegations against you and what is being extracted from history to support these allegations, what do you have to say for yourself?
RG: It is just rubbish. It is not a portrayal of the truth of what is going on now. And they also don't know the actual history of events in the liberation struggle.
MM: What is the actual history?
RG: I can't comment. Historians will tell.
MM: What about yourself, can we expect some memoirs from you anytime soon?
RG: Yes, at some stage I will have to write my memoirs (of my life in the struggle and in the party).
MM: Do the events of last week's Politburo meeting, which saw your suspension, fast track the writing of your memoirs?
RG: I don't want to comment on that.
MM: Do you or do you not think that the party and country should continue with the same leadership?
RG: I do not want to comment on that.
MM: What do you think are the prospects for Mai Mujuru going forward?
RG: I do not want to comment on that.
MM: Do you feel that your colleagues did not support you during last Thursday's Politburo?
RG: I do not want to comment on that. I will talk about it all later when the dust has settled.
MM: What will constitute the settling of dust for you? After congress? Some time before congress? When exactly?
RG: Parichazongo settlira ipapo dust racho (When it settles is when it settles).
MM: Did you see this suspension coming or were you caught by surprise?
RG: I will just say this was an event that has come and passed and not say anything more.
MM: Was it a none event for you or did it shatter your earth?
RG: I can't say that it derailed me much.
MM: In recent weeks since these anti Mujuru winds started raging, you were seen as one of the very few and rare brave ones that were standing up to the onslaught of the VP. Would you describe yourself as brave?
RG: (laughs) Aah unopenga iwe. (You are crazy) I was just doing my job.
MM: Aah but makambomira-mira Sir. (You stood your ground for a while there.)
RG: Well, you are the judges of these things as observers. From my end, all I was doing was just doing my job.
MM: But don't you have any thoughts on whether or not you were braving it? Were they not deliberate attempts at being brave? Surely you have some thoughts on that.
RG: No, I do not have any deliberate thoughts on that. I was just doing my job.
MM: Do you see yourself as a sell-out?
RG: Of course not. That is not true. You will see for yourself. History will tell.
MM: On the grand scheme of things, what kind of Zimbabwe would you like to see?
RG: A democratic, united and peaceful Zimbabwe, with a sound economy.
MM: What do you wish to see on the Zimbabwean political landscape?
RG: I am not going to comment about that now, but later yes.
MM: So later you will be able to tell me all these things you are saying you will comment on later?
RG: Yes, why not?
MM: Will you go back to the party after your five-year suspension?
RG: I am still in the party and I will be in it when the suspension ends.
MM: Assuming there is grounds for "repentance" of your alleged "sins", will you repent?
RG: I will not repent. There is nothing to repent about. I am what I am.
Source - fingaz
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