Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has released a press statement responding to President Robert Mugabe.
These are the main points in the press statement:
- Mnangagwa tells Mugabe that Zanu-PF is not personal property stating: “This Party is NOT PERSONAL PROPERTY for you and your wife to do as you please.”
- He says that he will not go anywhere and tells Mugabe to go and form his own party: “Those who violate our Party code of conduct because they think they have now outgrown Zanu PF are free to go and form their own parties. I will go nowhere.”
- He reveals that he has fled the country and hopes to one day return and lead. Said Mnangagwa: “I would like my fellow citizens to know that I am now out of the country, and safe. My sudden departure was caused by incessant threats on my person, life and family by those who have attempted before through various forms of elimination including poisoning.”
Read the full Press Statement below:
PRESS STATEMENT
FORMER HON. V.P.E.D. MNANGAGWA 13. NOVEMBER, 2017
My family was banished to Zambia when I was still in primary school for resisting the oppressive rule of the white minority regime in 1955. This action hardened my resolve for justice and black empowerment. I joined the United National Independent Party (UNIP) led by Dr. Kenneth Kaunda at a tender age and have been active in politics ever since.
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At 18 years of age I was recruited by the late Willie Musarurwa to join ZAPU and sent for military training to Tanzania and Egypt. A year later in August 1963 to be precise, I broke away with some cadres to join the newly formed Zimbabwe African National Union. I was subsequently sent for advanced military training in China which I completed May 1964. Some of my group members were Edson Shirihuru, Lawrence Svosve, John Shonhiwa and James Mudavanhu.
We became known as the famous Crocodile Group. Despite the hardships of the times, we operated in Zimbabwe “Rhodesia”, travelling entirely by foot in order to avoid arrest. Some of my colleagues were betrayed by sell outs, arrested and hanged. The same fate befell me in 1965, I was arrested, tortured and sentenced to death. The death sentence was subsequently commuted on a technicality to ten years imprisonment which I served in various prisons in Zimbabwe while at the same time I advanced my education through correspondence.
After my release, I was deported bock to Zambia where I completed my law degree. After my law degree, I voluntarily left Zambia to join the liberation struggle in Mozambique in 1976 where I was assigned as the Special Assistant to the President, Cde R.G. Mugabe. This role was reconfirmed at the Chimoio Congress in 1977. I have been very close to the President ever since. We have avoided life threatening situations together. I even doubled up as his personal bodyguard.
In return, the President has passed on to me life skills which have put me in good stead throughout my long period in government. Our relationship has over the years blossomed beyond that of master and servant but to father and son. My mouth has never uttered a single foul word against the President nor have I ever contemplated bringing him harm in any way. I therefore find it preposterous that any sane person can lyrically direct such accusations towards me.
Of late, I have been vilified beyond measure. My service to the party and government of Zimbabwe and my public and private posture towards my boss are well known. No amount of lies and convoluted thinking can diminish my loyalty to my party and the President. I have never appointed or surrogated myself in any position in the Party or in Government. I remain Firm and resolute against those who plunder public funds and are used by foreign countries to destabilize the Party.
These people are brazenly protected in public by the First Lady thereby making a mockery of our public institutions. I stand prepared, once again, to pay the ultimate price in defence of Zimbabwe. I am not afraid of anyone or worried about my political future under the current “Party Capture” that is being tolerated and condoned by the First Family.
I implore all genuine members of ZANU PF to reject this “Party Capture” by few individuals as I hereby do unequivocally. This is not the Zanu-PF we established with the late Dr. J. M. Nkomo and other luminaries who have passed on. This is now a party controlled by undisciplined, egotistical and self-serving minnows who derive their power not from the people and party but from only two individuals in the form of the First Family who have now privatized and commercialized our beloved institution.
It is regrettable that after 37 years of unbroken service in government. I am now being hounded out by minnows who have no liberation credentials or clear understanding of our constitution in Zanu PF. We must reject this insane and idiotic “, habit of expelling and suspending members of the party merely because we differ in opinion or have brighter and more progressive ideas of improving the lives of our people, to quote Cde R G Mugabe’s own adjective.
Your Excellency and First Secretary of Zanu-PF, it is sad and deplorable that you have allowed our Party to be hijacked by novices and external forces as well as individuals who have a proven record of treachery. This Party is NOT PERSONAL PROPERTY for you and your wife to do as you please. Now that you have clearly told the world that I am your enemy who has taken an excess of 50 years to formulate a plan to dispose of you, I now urge all the genuine members of the Party to determine for themselves who between the three of us including your wife and the notorious G40 boys is the enemy of the Party and who the real culprit is in destroying our beloved Zanu-PF.
Zanu PF is anchored on core values which promoted unity, peace and development regardless of ethnicity. I find it abhorrent and repulsive to separate the nation by region and province which is anathema to our founding principles. My emphasis is for the nation to unite to create peace and development. This particular accusation is nauseating when the First Lady prefers to have the song “Zezuru Unconquerable” played and sung at rallies she has held many times over. Who is the tribalist here?
I have been accused of committing treasonous acts dating back from 1980. This is not only fake but laughable and the President knows that. Why, why, the people are asking did you keep this man for so long and not have tried him for treason all these years?
Those who violate our Party code of conduct because they think they have now out grown Zanu PF are free to go and form their own parties. I will go nowhere. I will fight tooth and nail against those making a mockery against Zanu PF founding principles, ethos and values. You and your cohorts will instead leave Zanu-PF by the will of the people and this we will do in the coming few weeks as Zimbabweans in general now require new and progressive leadership that is not resident in the past and refuses to accept change. My conscience obliges me to uphold the code of conduct of my beloved Party and I refuse to be drawn into a public circus.
Religious gatherings should be used to preach love. peace and harmony not to spread hate speech and political intolerance. It was regrettable that men and women of the cloth were abused this past Sunday (5-11-2017) by non-other than the First Lady who spewed fake news, unfair and irresponsible comments about myself and character in an atmosphere which should have focused on Peace, Love, Unity and Development. This is grossly unfair and I was never given a chance to defend myself or at least proffer an explanation to the false and malicious accusations made against me.
Fellow Zimbabweans and specifically members of Zanu-PF, the time is now to say NO to Demi Gods and people that are self-centered and only think of themselves and their families. Let us bury our differences and rebuild a new and prosperous Zimbabwe, a country that is tolerant to divergent views, a country that respects opinions of others, a country that does not isolate itself from the rest of the world because of one stubborn individual who believes he is entitled to rule this country until death.
We want a country that gives every citizen the opportunity to prosper, to take care of their families, a country that encourages Zimbabweans to invest in their economy and contribute to the development of infrastructure for future generations. This is part of my vision for a rejuvenated Zimbabwe and particularly Zanu-PF and as I leave this post for now I encourage all loyal members of the party to remain in the party to register to vote as we will very soon control the levers of power in our beautiful Party and country. “Let not your hearts be troubled for peace, love, unity, development and Prosperity are around the corner.” I will be communicating with you soon and shall return to Zimbabwe to lead you.
PAMBERI NE ZANU-PF!!! PAMBERI NE ORIGINAL ZANU-PF, PASI NE G40!!!
I would like my fellow citizens to know that I am now out of the country, and safe. My sudden departure was caused by incessant threats on my person, life and family by those who hove attempted before through various forms of elimination including poisoning.
CDE E.D. MNANGAGWA
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Endai Makanyarara baba, makauraya nyika zvakakwana! chinyararai
I have met Emmerson Mnangagwa personally and have firsthand knowledge of Zimbabwe’s liberation history and of its personalities. I can vouch for every word of Mnangagwa’s press statement. The First Lady is Mugabe’s achilles heel. Her vindictiveness, jealousy and lust for power will cause her own self destruction and that of her husband.
So So True.Mr E.Mnangagwa deserves respect, keep safe.
Mike Rook ED’s history might be true so what. He is reaping what he saw. You think the victims of gukurahundi are not humans he os just the same
u reap what u sow…not saw!kwaaaaa
A silly thing to comment on Anonymous. Quite juvenile actually. Considering you havevssid “U” instead of you. People living in glass houses comes to mind.
….and the country……
Crocodile tears baba. Sometime in the past J.M. Nkomo had to skip the country to escape your murderous minions. Are you now surprised? Thats the nature of ZANU. Remember the 50 000 citizens of Matabeleland you murderd? You and Mugabe are the same side of the same coin. Wish you would never come back to Zimbabwe!
Tseeek … imbwa yemunhu. What happened to all the pple you chased in even worse manners who equally had same liberation credentials .. if not better than your “eulogy”?? Tell us why you killed Gen. Solomon Mujuru? Tell us why you chased his wife Joice Mujuru the founder of the same ZPF? Nonsense yemunhu…wamaaama. Manje hausati .. Grace will make sure you loose all your diamond mines in Zim and in the DRC, cuts you off every line of stealing and dispondency that you used to enjoy …then ZPF will be gone forever including grace wacho. We told you long back repeatedly that God is watching, God will answer you, God will reveal Himself, and I you have seen it…chiita futi pweeehh. Ntlxaaaaaa .. imbwa yemunhu.
ED is the rightful candidate for President’s Office. MDC T are the scapegoats of Zanu PF, still lives in Zanu PF House, being treated by Zanu PF funds, married a Zanu PF wife doesn’t want to pass the stick to anyone just like Mugabe. He want to lead the country till death, please lets be real here No Other suitable candidate among those contesting is fit for the job.
Now you want to sound as if you are for zim people,yet dai usina kudzingwa you were never going to address zviri kuitika munyika.Hamuna kusiyana ne first family,your hands are all dirty.Don’t come back,garako let Zimbabwe be.All I know is you don’t have balls,now you are in hiding,why hide ndimi makaironga tsoro iri,I bet maitovepo gushungo pavakadanana nagire only hamuna kuona kuti inyoka…lol.Karma is real,soon ndivo Dr amai,zvichavawana chete…nxaa.
They is no problem here. If Code RG Mugabe saw it fit to part ways with ED so be it. ED is one of those who endorsed the President as the only rightful person to lead the country. This is part of leadership. None should complain now. Us we are following only what is done by them, the leadership
EDM and RGM should get in the boxing ring and fight.Who ever is knocked down will be the looser and will quit office..zanupf .We have a bossy bully person in command who is using force and thinks they are iver and above everyobe.That was the problem and a mistake of giving all the powers to one person.Whoever wrote the country’s constitutikn. Zvobgo made a grave and dump mistake.Everyone in Zimbabwe is suffering bcoz of the constitution ..
Good riddance! ED is having a taste of own medicine. How come he can now clearly see the pain that he and his party brought to the country after being fired! A Zanu PF person will forever remain ‘Zanu PF-ish.’ Cruel, self-serving, inconsiderate and devilish. Nothing good will come out of Zanu PF. ED rightly deserves what he is going through now.
Firstly you have guts. To stand up against mugabe and his system you need to be prepared for the worst.
But your credentials dont add up. You and mugabe murdered innocent people including your opponents. We have not forgotten Godfrey Majonga.
You have no vision. Go and look after cattle.
We need fresh minded people with vision and integrity. You have pushed Zimbabwe 500 years behind.
Total contradiction. You went along with all the bad deeds for years and suddenly you see the light, doesn’t add up. What Zimbabwe needs is new young leadership
we are waiting for you honourable remember time is moving we are already sick tired of this old man lets your dismissal signified last kick of a dying to his regime.
we need new President and now we are fearless.
I wonder why all ZANUPF go against mugabe only after vadzingwa… mhata dzenyu mese nanamai Mujuru dai grace akakusvuurayi masvada kuti mumame. You should have done this in 1999 but instead makapisa Rex necandle. And what about those brigadiers vana Gunda makavapedzera mutsaona.
Pamberi neMDC
Your complaint begins with ” when minnows attacked you”
Truth your bigotry blinded you from a young age and you have skills honed by self interested foreign powers only interested in their agenda who manipulated you with your consent
By your own admission you are trained by Mugabe to rape steal plunder and kill in the name of a political party NOT the nation
Question just where do you think Zimbabwe the nation will fare in the next 37 years as you employ these well honed skills to the advantage of your precious bigoted political party.
Research ask the average 13.5 million unemployed, sick and hungry Zimbabweans (note there are only an estimated 60,000 white Zimbabweans left for you to blame) just what they think of how you have performed and what you have done for them since 1980.
NOTE prior to 1980 Rhodesia had a mere several hundred thousand white populations who worked, fought and died to feed, educate and provide health for EVERY Rhodesian and very few of those believed that White majority rule was forever most knew and understood that their job was to prosper Rhodesia to allow the processes of education and time to produce leadership committed to all
In the end international greed and treachery handed a despot protected by you the keys and watched the carnage as you destroyed all to protect your precious party and your precious revolution
Self interest is not the best qualification for leadership and your admission that you were educated by Mugabe and served his self interest is the millstone around your neck
Many people actually believed that the revolution was about freeing the black man not many black or white who have lived outside the protected walls of ZanuPF can possibly believe that anymore
In fact you caused many good people to die so that they could watch their families be held captive by your own personal ambition and greed
How can I say that well put simply; birds of a feather flock together and you have been a vulture picking the eyes out of this nation for long enough
Generations benefited from the work of the white community now generations will suffer because of you actions as a way forward is sought.
Show some dignity and leave now before the Hague drags you away.
In a revolution such as that of Zimbabwe, the people must advocate for complete new change. Change is very hard to endure, some people have to suffer as a result and the
people of Zimbabwe know exactly where the sword hurts. The changes involve grass root
participation to decide the future of the Country. In looking back in Ghana’s revolution,
we were students by then but were architects for need for change and participated in that respect.The results of our participation
could have been good or worst and left for Ghanaians to judge.