PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday conceded that all
was not well in his administration, accusing some of his lieutenants of
sabotaging him and calling them “wolves in sheep clothing”.
Faced with runaway inflation and persistent rumours to
topple him, Mnangagwa yesterday said there were enemies of progress in his
government and warned that “their days were numbered”.
He was speaking at the burial of national hero, Stanley
Nleya at the National Heroes’ Acre. He also acknowledged that Zimbabwe was
facing an economic crisis and pleaded for peace and unity in the face of
growing dissent against his tumultuous two-year rule.
“We shall not allow a situation where our people live in
chronic insecurity, lack and deprivation. It has become apparent that in our
midst, there are wolves in sheep clothing. The end is coming,” he said.
“Let us never be complacent, the war of today is neither
guns nor bombs. The war against our economic prosperity is on-going,” Mnangagwa
said.
“Rest assured that the enemies of progress and economic
growth of our country will never win as long as we remain united. The
challenges we face are not insurmountable. I exhort all of us not to surrender,
it is not over.”
Two weeks ago, Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe made
unsolicited claims that members of the opposition, churches, civic
organisations, top government and military officials were working with Western
diplomats accredited to the country in a plot to oust Mnangagwa.
Kazembe was flanked by the security chiefs and the claims,
observers say, exposed Mnangagwa’s fears and instability in both government and
ruling party.
Zimbabwe is in the throes of its worst crisis in a decade
underlined by galloping inflation which reached 785% in May, daily price
increases and fuel shortages.
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Mnangagwa and his Finance minister Mthuli Ncube blame
western sanctions, alleged economic saboteurs and climate change for the
collapse of the economy.
But Mnangagwa yesterday added: “Despite the setbacks we may
face, Zimbabwe needs people who choose peace over disharmony, tranquillity over
violence, love and peace over hatred, morality, integrity and hard honest work
over immorality, laziness and corruption. We must choose justice and truth over
lies and falsehoods.”
He also accused senior government officials of corruption,
but did not mention names.
Two years after assuming power, Mnangagwa has seen two of
his ministers, Health minister Obadiah Moyo and former Tourism minister Priscah
Mupfumira being arraigned before the courts on corruption charges.
His family has also been dragged into a COVID-19 tender
scam involving Drax International whose representative in the country, Delish
Nguwaya is a close friend of the First Family.
“On the evident economic malpractices that are present in
various forms, my government will never shy away from implementing policies and
measures that ensure that the honest workers of our country live honourably,”
Mnangagwa said.
Nleya died on Tuesday in Bulawayo and was described
yesterday as an “irreplaceable instructor and commander” who trained several
decorated commanders that include the current Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence
Forces, General Philip Valerio Sibanda. Newsday
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