The dispute between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his
predecessor Robert Mugabe has dominated the headlines since the 94-year-old
celebrated his birthday last month.
The new Zanu PF leader has been measured in his response to
Mugabe’s complaints about alleged ill-treatment of his family since he was
ousted by the military last November.
Standard reporter Bernard Mpofu (BM) took advantage of a
press conference held by Mnangagwa (ED) on the sidelines of the CEO Roundtable
meeting in Victoria Falls last week to field questions on political
developments in the country.
He also queried why the government closes a section of
Chancellor Avenue between State House and Zimbabwe House overnight much to the
inconvenience of motorists. Below are excerpts from the interview.
BM: Is government considering opening up the section of
road along Chancellor Avenue at State House, which is closed between 6pm and
6am?
ED: I am not sure if at your age you would understand why
that part of the road along Chancellor Avenue was closed.
This happened in the early 80s when some people driving
along that road between State House and Zimbabwe House fired rockets onto
Zimbabwe House.
So we didn’t want that possibility of people using
proximity to Zimbabwe House and cause insecurity to the occupants.
So, we closed that road between 6pm and 6am because the
incident happened at night. Now I realise that such an eventuality is now very
remote.
I have confidence that our own people will no longer do
things of that nature. I think they should be able to respect government
institutions and you don’t force respect by putting such constraints.
It is my view that if we are all united and if all of us
feel we are patriotic to our own country and if we have channels where we vent
our grievances, there is no need of firing rockets at government institutions.
I think that there are channels where one can vent one’s
concern or complaint. I am going to make sure that barrier is removed.
After all, we have security patrolling 24 hours a day, so
why put those spikes? That’s part of the freedom which we want our people to
enjoy.
BM: Last week you told Zanu PF youths that you were trying
to establish whether or not former president Mugabe was linked to the National
Patriotic Front. What have you established?
ED: Somebody asked me that and I replied to that question
saying ‘I think the media, yourselves if you were patriotic, you would advise
me more than I would advise you because you are the ones who publish what you
are publishing’.
I am, however, saying that what is being published in the
media I’m not comfortable with; that is if it is not true because I have so
much respect for the former president.
I can’t just take anything published and say he has done
it. We will look into it and find out whether it is true or not because this is
the media. I’m used to knowing that some of the things in the media may not be
completely accurate.
BM: In relation to other media reports, it was reported
that you had requested to see Mugabe after your trip to the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC). What is your comment on this?
ED: I did not ask to meet him. We discussed, me and the
former president, and in the course of our discussion, because previously I had
indicated to him that me and the current leadership we would be going to his
house to pay our respects on his birthday.
But I was not able to do so because on that particular day
I was in Bulawayo at the launch of the railway coaches.
So, I said I had promised to come on that day with some of
my leadership, but we were not able to do so because I was away.
But then I was now going to the DRC and when we come back
from the DRC, we can arrange when we will be able to meet.
BM: Did you meet?
ED: If I had met with him, you would be the first to know
that I have met him.
So, when I came from the DRC, the former president went to
South Africa for some five to six days, I think. He is back now.
BM: Mr President, we understand that you will travel to
China next month and this visit comes at a time when diplomatic relations
between Harare and most Western governments have been thawing.
Are we seeing a shift in the country’s foreign policy
considering that your predecessor focused on the Look East policy?
ED: On my inauguration I said I have a duty to make
courtesy calls on my peers in Sadc and I have done that.
Secondly, I must do it to AU, I have done that. Thirdly,
outside Africa, the first country I will visit is China. What does that tell
you? Have I answered you?
BM: Partly.
BM: Some of your critics, who include former Finance
minister Tendai Biti, have said government has no legal instruments to
prosecute companies and individuals who failed to return what you called
externalised funds. What is your comment on this?
ED: Fortunately, I’m also an advocate. Biti should be very
happy, he is an advocate.
If these people are being wrongly dealt with, they must
rush to Biti so that he can defend them in court.
That is business for him, but I’m going ahead [to prosecute
those] who have taken out assets from Zimbabwe, which belong to the people,
which they have taken out, which under our laws if you export you are required
under CD1 forms to remit the proceeds of exports of goods, which are
Zimbabwean.
So, if Biti says no, there is no requirement, let him
defend them. He must feel very good about that. Standard
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