The Sunday Mail
Lovemore Mataire in Victoria Falls
The President and First Secretary of Zanu PF, Cde Robert Mugabe has castigated some arrogant leaders who brag about their positions and disrespect junior members of the party.
Cde Mugabe said this yesterday in his closing remarks at the party’s 15th Annual National People’s Conference here.
He urged members to work as a team and show contrition when reprimanded or disciplined.
‘We cannot succeed when the party, say at grassroots, has people pulling in different directions. You think thus of a brand were people are at loggerheads, the chairman and the vice chairman are at cross purposes, others (like the) treasurer doesn’t bring money back, he squanders some and so on, and you are really at cross-purpose with each other. That brand lacks harmony, lacks unity, lacks discipline, lacks direction, it can never stand,’’ said Cde Mugabe.
He said there is need for mutual respect among leadership and their subordinates.
“Respect your seniors and have that harmony and those at the top must not be braggers… brag and say yes ininini ndiri kutonga. The chairman says ehe ndini hapana anoita zvandinenege ndisina kutaura ini kuti aite. Muri kuzvinwa here? Ndini ndine simba rose pano, ndakada kuti musi uno ugare pasi ndakumisa mupark, ndonokumisa ini mupark. Tingatotorawo nachairman iyeye kuti maihwe wakazvinona kupi zvorudzi irworo. No…tinomuti stop it. No, things don’t go that way.
‘’Respect even your juniors because if you don’t they will also disrespect you. And work in harmony. Don’t be unnecessarily rude and harsh, listen calmly even to a person who would have committed an offence, just listen to him. But if the person has also committed an offence, he cannot go away with it and say aah ini handitongwi, ini ndini ani handimbofa ndakabviswa, aiwa unobviswa terera zviri kutaurwa nevamwe.
“Listen to what the others are saying, this is a people’s party. lt’s not your party and your insolence and impudence will make things worse for you. Listen, sit down and you will naturally be able to say aah you were accusing me of this, no I didn’t do or yes I did it but I must have made a mistake, I apologise.
“That is the way. Izvi zvokuti ndiri ngana ndakaenda kuhondo iwe hauna kuenda kuhondo – nonsense!’’
Cde Mugabe said the two Vice Presidents, Cdes Emerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko are former liberation fighters but they don’t go about bragging about their participation in the war.
He said those who brag about their participation must be prepared to specify their exploits.
Cde Mugabe said the party has high regard for war veterans who upon independence formed the foundation of the new army, police force and prison service while others became civil servants.
‘’We did not say we will forget the veterans, we will remember them for what they have done and ensure their welfare is catered for but they become part of the people.
“And so, we did not expect them to form a party, no, but that they would get into party machinery to serve at the branch level, at district level, at the provincial level, etcetera, some of them. But they had to be recognised by the people.’’
President Mugabe praised Buhera South legislator Cde Joseph Chinotimba for being a humble and exemplary war veteran. He described the legislator as practical and down to earth.
“He is down to earth, haashore. I have given you an example of a simple man akaenda kuhondo, he had missed on his education but the people voted for him. But I know of some commanders vepamusoro, vese vana Tungamirai hapana akambombobuda yet he was commander of the Air Force. But pamusana pezviito zvevamwe zvozoita affect vamwe vakanakawo zvawo,’’ said President Mugabe.
