
Dube paid a heavy price for his daring remarks where he
also warned the 93-year-old that he faced a humiliating exit if he did not take
calls to name a successor when he still could.
He was fired in Mugabe’s last Cabinet reshuffle. On Friday,
he sat side by side with war veterans’ leader Christopher Mutsvangwa at a press
conference where they announced plans for a final push against the beleaguered
president.
Dube told Standard reporter Blessed Mhlanga (BM) in an interview that Mugabe had ignored a seven-day ultimatum by Zimbabwe Defence
Forces commander Constantino Chiwenga to reverse the purging of Zanu PF members
believed to be supporters of ousted vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The Makokoba MP and former respected Zipra commander said
Mugabe’s defiance triggered the army takeover last Wednesday.
BM: You have been a cabinet minister working with Mugabe
and you were close to him. People are saying he is incompetent. How was he when
he chaired cabinet meetings?
TD: I can’t say much; well, he came to Cabinet meetings. He
presented himself, yes, but what he grasped from the meetings I don’t know.
However, most times [former]vice-president Emmerson
Mnangagwa was chairing Cabinet meetings, while he [Mugabe] was just sleeping.
BM: Mugabe and his wife Grace insulted all who dared cross
their path. Why did you allow this to happen for such a long time?
TD: You don’t usually rush to solve things, you let a man
have a very long rope to hang himself and finally he has hung himself.
He is cornered with nobody feeling sorry for him or even
wanting anything to do with him.
BM: You shared trenches with Mugabe and you have spoken
highly of him in the past. Do you feel sorry his legacy is now tattered like
this?
TD: It’s his choice. if he can still save it by being
reasonable saying “I am stepping down”, then we will discuss with him and see
what’s next and we give him some form of respect.
But if he refuses then he is arrogant and that is what the
people of Zimbabwe will have to deal with. In that option, he will walk away
with nothing.
He will be forgettable in the history of Zimbabwe and that
will be sad for both him and his family.
BM: You have always been outspoken and said things that
Mugabe did not want to hear, which saw you being fired. What gave you that
courage at a time when everyone in government and Zanu PF feared him so much?
TD: Oh well, it’s an individual character. If you want to
become a coward and can’t talk at my age [it becomes a problem.] I say what I
think, otherwise I would not have been normal not to speak out on an important
national matter that affects the people I serve as a member of parliament and
as I served as minister.
BM: After this action by the military, which nobody is
calling a coup, what do you think the future holds for Zimbabwe?
TD: The future of Zimbabwe is going to be very bright;
already we are starting next year on a very high note, one without a family
dynasty. This brings lot of hope and vigour to our people.
We want our people to enjoy Christmas and make a life for
the young people.
BM: There are calls for Mugabe to step down because of old
age, are you also considering stepping down from politics after all this is
done?
TD: As long as I am still healthy, I must participate in
the running of the country. I must be involved in shaping the future of our
people.
BM: What are your views on the action taken by the Zimbabwe
Defence Forces to put pressure on Mugabe to resign?
TD: It shows maturity of the forces, love for the people of
Zimbabwe, and a dedication to the people’s welfare because they have done
exactly what they are supposed to do; they have not done anything out of their
mandate.
They didn’t carry out a coup but just swept the house so
that they leave it clean.
BM: Did it have to come to this? Were there any attempts to
make Mugabe understand that he needed to go before the military action?
TD: Well, he was given an ultimatum before this started,
before General Constantino Chiwenga went to China. He was given an ultimatum
and he chose to ignore it.
BM: What was the nature of that ultimatum?
TD: The ultimatum was the same as the statement that was
eventually read out by the generals before they stepped in.
They told him to sort out his mess within seven days, to
gag his wife and deal with the G40 cabal, which was busy insulting the person
of the military and leaders in government in public spaces.
He didn’t. Instead, they went on a spree of expelling
people from the party, quite the opposite of the ultimatum.
BM: Was this after Mnangagwa was fired or not?
TD: Vice-president Mnangagwa was only fired after the
ultimatum and he was moving to fire more than 100 party members, most of them
war veterans.
Then from there they wanted to purge out government
employees.
BM: What was the objective of the purges in your view?
TD: This is what we don’t know. He turned himself against
everyone in the party and the country and this is what has got him here, in a
cage. sTANDARD
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