Addressing Zanu PF supporters at Stanley Square in Makokoba high density suburb on Saturday during the launch of party’s anti-sanctions petition in the Bulawayo province, Mnangagwa, who himself harbours presidential ambitions, said nobody will stop Mugabe from continuing with his rule.
Mnangagwa, who in 2004 was accused of hatching a plan to side step Mugabe in what later became known as the Tsholotsho Declaration, has in the past few years gone on a crusade of praise singing the ageing leader.
Top Zanu PF officials, have since independence fallen over each other in singing praises for Mugabe with some blasphemously calling him the “only other son of God” while more recently, the Minister of Information Webster Shamu said Mugabe was like “Cremora”.
Ironically, in the later 90s Shamu led a futile campaign to dethrone Mugabe from being leader of Zanu PF. Due to the bootlicking, former Zimbabwe’s iron lady of politics, Margaret Dongo described the Zanu PF officials as “Mugabe’s wives”, for being scared of him.
And Mnangagwa, lived to this reputation while in Bulawayo last Saturday.
“President Mugabe will continue ruling this country. Nobody will stop him, even if the GPA collapses he will continue ruling. Zimbabweans you are actually lucky to have a brave man like him,” said Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa, who is also Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs added that “Mugabe is like an elephant and many western countries especially Britain are scared of him that’s why they slapped him with sanctions”.
Last month, Mnangagwa said heads of foreign firms could be forced to go on radio to publicly denounce western sanctions imposed on Mugabe and cronies, or face losing 90% of their company shareholding.
The US and EU have imposed targeted sanctions on Mugabe and his inner circle for human rights abuses, vote rigging, disregard of property rights and other issues.
Mugabe’s Zanu PF party has been calling for the removal of the sanctions for years now, blaming the West’s restrictive measures for the country’s destruction. Two weeks ago, Mugabe launched a national anti-sanctions petition which he said needs two million signatures.
Meanwhile, Zanu PF youths caused chaos outside Stanley Square during the Saturday address by Mnangagwa, as they were blocking traffic and demonstrating along Third Avenue extension, waving placards, denouncing the sanctions.
