Hands off Mugabe, Mnangagwa told – Nehanda Radio скачать в хорошем качестве

Hands off Mugabe, Mnangagwa told – Nehanda Radio

By Maxwell Sibanda Former president must be free to engage in political activities he wants and associate with any party he wants to as long as such activities are not treasonous, analysts content. Mugabe and his wife Grace, seem to have angered President and his party after they reportedly “anointed” former minister of State for Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs as the leader of the new political project, National Patriotic Front (NPF). Mutinhiri, a veteran of the 1970s war against white minority rule resigned from and gave up his parliamentary seat before meeting Mugabe after which he announced that he had formed NPF. The development has rattled officials who are suspicious that by endorsing Mutinhiri, the former president is daring government under the leadership of Mnangagwa. Mugabe’s nephew, Patrick Zhuwao speaking from his hide-out has said Mugabe and his wife are not part of NPF. But Mnangagwa, addressing a Youth League assembly recently said he is disturbed by the media reports that Mugabe is behind the formation of NPF. He added though that he is not going to take a stance against Mugabe until he has gathered enough information that the former president is behind the formation of a political party to distabilise . Mnangagwa remarked: “The former president, paita nyaya (there’s an issue). Currently, we see in the media about various speculations about his activities. I have no doubt that in no time the facts and reality will be made known. “And we will only take a position when the issues are known and it’s factual. But currently we are not happy with what the media is saying. We don’t know if it’s correct or not but it’s an issue that we are examining.” Political and social analysts believe Mugabe’s involvement in active politics from behind the scene is an irritant for his successor. Human rights lawyer Dewa Mavhinga said Mnangagwa’s quagmire and political quandary is that he was in Mugabe’s government since 1980, which makes him complicity in abuses levelled against Mugabe through the principle of collective responsibility. “He therefore maybe unable to prosecute or charge Mugabe, but would rather use harassment and intimidation to try and silence Mugabe without having to subject him to due process of law which would openly expose the fallacy of a new administration totally divorced from Mugabe’s era. “If Mnangagwa cannot subject Mugabe to due process like prosecution he should guarantee Mugabe’s full rights as a free Zimbabwean citizen. Only a competent and independent court of law can place a legitimate limit on a citizen’s rights, including Mugabe,” said Mavhinga. Analyst Rashweat Mukundu said Mugabe poses an electoral challenge to Mnangagwa as he remains popular with some in and the formation of NPF by Mutinhiri is an attestation that there remains many disgruntled members not happy with events of November 2017. “In this regard Mnangagwa and are concerned about Mugabe and his movements and likely political decisions.