The government has rubbished Mnangagwa poisoning theory,
with Information minister Christopher Mushohwe suggesting that he ate stale
food.
However, the minister’s line infuriated Mnangagwa’s
supporters, who believe that he was being targeted for elimination.
Standard senior reporter Xolisani Ncube (XN) yesterday
spoke to Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo (SKM) who said the issue was
cause for concern.
He dismissed social media claims that he is one of the
ministers that allegedly poisoned Mnangagwa.
Moyo also spoke about a number of issues affecting the
ruling party. Below are excerpts from the interview.
XN: The month of August seems to have been a tough one for
Zanu PF. We have seen a number of top figures dying in a short space of time,
what does this mean for the party?
SKM: This month has been a heavy one for us, it has been a
moment that we asked ourselves “but why Lord?”
It is a moment we are asking ourselves who will tell the
story of the liberation movement when cadres like Mai Maud Muzenda and Cde
George Rutanhire are gone.
We lost Cde [Shuvai] Mahofa and this has really affected
the spirit in the party and we ask why, and why?
The people who are dying stood for the truth, people who
abhorred factionalism and believed in the ethos of the struggle, which is unity
and hard work.
In the case of Cde Rutanhire, he was an ideologist who
infused the history and the thrust of the party.
We have really lost the people who made Zanu PF what it
should be.
In Gogo Muzenda, we have lost a mother who stood by her
children and laboured to be with them, supporting the struggle.
After independence, she was there giving wisdom and support
to our late vice-president Simon Muzenda.
This is also a warning to many of us that it is God who
knows the destination of this journey.
We must always be ready and do the work that we ought to do
now when we are able to.
We must work for the unity of the party and stop this
tribalism, regionalism and other divisive attitudes that destroy the ethos of
the liberation struggle. We must shun factionalism.
XN: Cde Moyo, you are speaking so well of Rutanhire, but we
hear he died a pauper; the party neglected him while he was alive, why?
SKM: I have no information about what you are talking
about. The truth is Cde Rutanhire died a dedicated Zanu PF cadre, principled,
corrupt-free and anti-factionalism.
The issue of welfare can be better answered by those
responsible for the welfare of party cadres.
Those are the people who should tell you what happened and
if the information you are getting is true or not.
XN: Factionalism seems to be the in-thing in Zanu PF. What
is causing the divisions?
SKM: It is very true, it is a disease that, as leadership,
we must deal with. But the best way to deal with it is that every factional
leader must realise that they will never be party leaders unless they stop
factionalism.
You can’t be a factional leader and expect to be a national
leader; a faction will never grow to become a party, never.
Likewise, the party will never shrink to be a faction. Any
person leading a faction must know that he/she will never, never lead the
party.
It must be understood that the party is bigger than
individuals and those who think that they are bigger than the party are fooling
themselves.
We all must adhere to the principles of being corruption-free,
not being tribal in our system and not being divisive.
We must know that the party has a sound leadership, a
leadership of President Cde Robert Mugabe and that is it.
XN: With all these factional fights Cde Moyo, do you see
Zanu PF winning 2018 elections and how?
SKM: As I said, we will win the 2018 [elections] because of
the policies that we have and these are people-driven policies, policies that
speak to the empowerment of our people.
We are preparing for the polls by consulting what the people
want their government to do for them.
XN: But judging by the extent of factionalism, it is
unlikely that there will be a united Zanu PF in 2018. I say so looking at
claims of poisoning of senior party members due to factional fights.
SKM: Why not say alleged poisoning? These are disturbing
events that we are seeing if they are true. But again, we have a leadership in
place and the matter shall or should I say should be investigated by
authorities and those alleged to be involved, they should be questioned.
We expect the police to have received the matter if there
are claims of poisoning as it is being alleged.
People should stop throwing around things they cannot
prove. It is being divisive.
XN: Is the party doing anything to probe the alleged
poisoning of VP Mnangagwa?
SKM: That is the responsibility of the police and not the
party per ser or the structures tasked to look after the leadership.
It is very worrying and disturbing and we hope the truth
will come out at the end of it.
XN: But your name is being mentioned that you are part of
the people who poisoned the VP.
SKM: I heard that, but it is being very irresponsible on
the part of those alleging so because on the day in question, I left Harare via
Air Zimbabwe and drove from Bulawayo to Gwanda with my security team.
So I don’t know what the people who are saying so are
trying to prove. I must say, we must also be responsible with social media and
stop being reckless.
Again. I hope the security system will pick up the mischief
and investigate why they are sowing division in the party like that.
XN: Thank you very much Cde Moyo for your time
SKM: My pleasure. standard
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