PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has okayed a full-scale purge on
all government officials and parastatal bosses linked to ousted former
Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, accusing them of deliberately sabotaging
Zanu PF programmes and the economy for political expediency.
Addressing thousands of Zanu PF supporters commandeered to
participate in a solidarity march organised for him by party youths in Harare
yesterday, Mugabe said all pro-Mnangagwa civil servants should be flushed out
of both the party and government.
“Go and eject them from the party. All his supporters, we
do not want people who do not follow the norms of the party. You cannot be
bigger than the party, no, no, no!,” he said.
“There are some people who thought since the sun is about
to set, they can deviate from the norms of the party. We do not accept such
things. It doesn’t matter you have been with the President for so long.
“It doesn’t matter whether you were invited by the
President and he put you in his pocket and walked with you in the journey of
life . . . you don’t try to take shortcuts because the journey is long,
shortcuts have lions, have potholes and have death.”
Mugabe accused Mnangagwa of consulting sangomas so he could
be foretold when the 93-year-old Zanu PF leader would die.
“People were told that I will retire in March, but I did
not. Upon realising that I wasn’t, he started to consult traditional healers on
when I was going to die. At some point, he was told that he would die first
before me,” Mugabe alleged.
Youth league political commissar Innocent Hamandishe called
on Mugabe to sanction the sacking of government officials, board members of
parastatals and party members for supporting Mnangagwa.
The solidarity march also confirmed First Lady Grace Mugabe
as the suitable candidate to replace Mnangagwa and fill the women’s quota in
the presidium.
Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko and youth league
secretary Kudzanai Chipanga both urged Mugabe to endorse the decision to
appoint Grace as his deputy both in government and ruling party.
Said Mphoko: “In 2014, you appointed me to be your deputy.
You also appointed my colleague, but he is no longer with us. I am now lonely
your Excellency, I felt it yesterday. Kindly appoint a counterpart for me.
“I am glad because people have identified the one they
want. Do not be afraid or ashamed to appoint your own wife. She is Zimbabwean
and the people want her.” Newsday
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