IN A surprising development, expelled former Zanu PF youth
leader Godfrey Tsenengamu, pictured, has sensationally claimed that some ruling
party bigwigs are involved in the organisation of the planned July 31 mass
protests against the government, the Daily News reports.
This comes as Zanu PF is once again beset with ugly
factional, tribal and succession wars — which split the former liberation
movement in the middle in the last few years in power of the late former
President Robert Mugabe.
It also comes as the opposition and pro-democracy groups
are planning to roll out massive demos against President Emmerson Mnangagwa and
his government, over the worsening local economic crisis and the Zanu PF
leader’s perceived reluctance to hold much-needed dialogue with the opposition
and civic society.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily News yesterday,
Tsenengamu — who now leads the anti-graft pressure group Front for Economic
Emancipation in Zimbabwe (FEEZ) — claimed that he was working with some
disgruntled Zanu PF bigwigs in mobilising for the month-end demonstrations.
“The whole nation is in agreement against what the looters
are doing. They will be surprised that on July 31, the majority of Zanu PF
members are going to be part of the protest against corruption.
“We are talking with some senior Zanu PF members. Some are
even … telling us that they are tired of corruption … we are working with
them,” he said.
Asked to name some of the officials involved, Tsenengamu
would only say: “Wait and see how many people are going to come out from Zanu
PF who will be supporting this protest.
“There are many. This is not about factions, it’s about
people who are victims of corruption,” he added.
Since his expulsion from Zanu PF, over the allegations of
corruption that he made against some of the party’s bigwigs, Tsenengamu has
become an arch critic of Mnangagwa and his government.
Speaking to the Daily News’ sister publication, the Daily
News On Sunday in an exclusive interview over the weekend, Tsenengamu also said
that it was time for Mnangagwa to show
leadership and deliver on his electoral promises.
He said the Zanu PF leader’s performance since taking over
from Mugabe via a popular military intervention in November 2017, had been
hugely underwhelming.
“If we say he is not in charge, then that means he is a
weak leader and maybe a placeholder. And if that is the case, then it means
that he is unfit for his position.
“If we also say that he is being misled by alleged
lieutenants, then it also means that he is not what we thought and believed him
to be,” Tsenengamu further told the Daily News On Sunday.
“How a whole president could be misled when he has all the
apparatus at his disposal … think of the intelligence services in the defence,
CIO and police. Are they all misleading him?” he asked rhetorically.
“He has a whole Cabinet, the Presidential Advisory Council
(PAC) … politburo, central committee and the Political Actors Dialogue … all
there to advise him and you still suggest that he is being misled. Why?
“We don’t want the repeat of the Mugabe scenario where
everyone would say the president is right but those around him are the bad
ones. No,” Tsenengamu further told the Daily News On Sunday.
“If his lieutenants are misleading him and he doesn’t see
that, then he does not deserve the position. I would not want to apportion
blame on those without the mandate to lead and govern.
“He is the president and the chief executive of this
country. He must just pull up his socks,” the FEEZ boss further told the Daily
News On Sunday.
“I am of the opinion that he must start listening to
advice. Of late, many in the corridors of power have been complaining that he
is not a good listener despite what he pretends to be when in public.
“If he wants other people to work with him and help him
achieve, then he must also be ready to take advice,” Tsenengamu added.
Earlier this week, Zanu PF named Tsenengamu as being part
of the people it accused of trying to engineer Mnangagwa’s ouster through the
planned July 31 mass protests.
Speaking on Monday, Zanu PF secretary for administration
Obert Mpofu said Tsenengamu was one of the people who allegedly wanted to
destabilise the nation.
“The party is aware of the planned mass protests which are
being organised by MDC Alliance renegades, Tajamuka, Front for Economic
Emancipation in Zimbabwe (FEEZ) led by the ex-party youth commissar Godfrey
Tsenengamu and other media protagonists.
“Our security department should constantly alert us of this
clear present danger of this unholy alliance.
“We also take note and welcome the Prosecutor-General’s
efforts for the extradition of Jonathan Moyo from Kenya as he is the figment of
the external demonisation of leadership, exhorting mass uprising in the
country,” Mpofu said.
However, a defiant Tsenengamu said yesterday that he was
not deterred by Zanu PF’s threats.
“Targeting individuals or their organisations will not help
them in any way. There is a national consensus on the need to act together as a
people against corruption.
“Looting and economic mismanagement have resulted in
citizens wallowing in poverty. Targeting the messenger won’t stop the message.
“If Mpofu said we are anti-establishment, then corruption
is another name for Zanu PF because we are anti-corruption. They are just
trying to find ground to intimidate people,” Tsenengamu further told the Daily
News.
This comes as Mnangagwa and his under pressure
administration are struggling to unshackle the country’s economy from its
current crisis which has triggered fears of a return to the horror situation of
2008.
Despite the 77-year-old Zanu PF leader having been feted like
a king when he took over from the late Mugabe, via a widely supported military
coup in November 2017, Mnangagwa and his government have found the task of
repairing the country’s broken economy very tough.
Meanwhile, the organisers of the July 31 protests are
confident that they will garner large crowds in the planned mass actions.
Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob Ngarivhume — who is the
main organiser of the planned protests — said yesterday that he had held talks
with various groups to persuade them to join the demos.
Among those he said he had met were Tsenengamu, Mnangagwa’s
adviser Shingi Munyeza and opposition figures that include Ian Makone and Elton
Mangoma.
“We met on Monday to engage leaders and seek buy-in for the
nationwide demonstration, and we got it.
“The consultation process is still on-going and I am having
a meeting with the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ)
secretary-general Raymond Majongwe and the Zimbabwe Teachers Association
(Zimta) … to seek their buy-in as well.
“I have already received the support of nurses’ unions who
have said they want to join the demonstration which will go beyond corruption,
to include the need for national dialogue, as well as paying civil servants in
US dollars,” Ngarivhume said. Daily News
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