War veterans boss and former Cabinet minister Christopher
Mutsvangwa yesterday said President Robert Mugabe’s memory was now failing,
describing him as a “revisionist” bent on rewriting the country’s history.
Mutsvangwa was responding to Mugabe’s statements in his
address to the Zanu PF women’s league annual national assembly on Thursday that
the 93-year-old received the war veterans’ chief along with his colleagues when
they arrived in Mozambique to join the liberation struggle.
The war veterans’ chairman said he welcomed Mugabe and his
entourage at Chimoio, contrary to the veteran leader’s claims.
“These are the historical facts,” Mutsvangwa said.
“The truth is that I am the one who received Robert Mugabe
at Chimoio Zhunda Camp and not the other way round, as now claimed by the
comrade, who became the first President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
“His version is patently a revisionist account. Only G40
(Higher Education minister) Jonathan Moyo could have penned it for him to
regurgitate.
“Comrade President, true revolutionaries have that
attribute of historical integrity, as a cardinal virtue.”
When addressing the women’s league, Mugabe said he received
the likes of Mutsvangwa and others at Chimoio, when they were coming from
university (of Rhodesia) to join the liberation struggle.
“We received the likes of Mutsvangwa and others at Chimoio,
when they were coming from university.
“They were four of them. We welcomed them, but today they
are the ones saying the President must go.
“‘He is too old, it is painful’, but they are not alone. They are being sent,” Mugabe said in his address that
included potshots at the military and a faction of the ruling party loyal to
Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
But Mutsvangwa differed with Mugabe’s version of events. “Robert
Mugabe only got to Chimoio Zhunda Camp in September 1975, well after my
arrival,” he said.
“He came together with Edgar Tekere, Nisbert Makotsi, a
Dengwani and 150 to 200 comrades.
“I arrived at Chimoio Zhunda Camp in early July 1975, soon
after Mozambique’s Independence Day.”
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’
Association (ZNLWVA) has called for the arrest of First Lady Grace Mugabe for
telling Mugabe to appoint a successor.
“We are calling on Grace Mugabe to be arrested because we
were arrested for exactly what she has said,” ZNLWVA secretary-general, Victor
Matemadanda said yesterday.
“We were arrested for saying the same things she said
yesterday (Thursday), so we are in a democracy and if the law is to be seen to
be applied equally, Grace must be arrested.” Newsday
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