The Sunday Mail
President Mugabe has criticised leaders who are fanning divisions within Zanu-PF and issued a stern warning that the party will not continue tolerating such “weevils”.
Speaking at the burial of revered nationalist and former Cabinet minister Dr Nathan Shamuyarira at the National Heroes’ Acre yesterday, the President also said the media should not be used to attack particular personalities.
He said there was no room for retrogressive individuals in Zanu-PF, adding that it was important to protect party youths from being corrupted by destructive leaders.
“Pakati pedu, munyika medu, tine zvipfukuto. Ndiani anoziva kunobva chipfukuto? Ini handimboziva kuti chinozvarwa nani. Ndinongoona kuti ah, ah, ah, chibage change chiri mudura chane zvipfukuto.
“Nyemba dzangu dzanga dziri musaga dzane zvipfukuto. Ko, zvabva nekupi? Eheee; Zanu-PF ine zvipfukutowo. Zanu-PF ine zvipfukutoooooo,” said President Mugabe, amid whistles and ululation from mourners.
“Let’s take care of these weevils. Saka tinazvoka. Manje togaranazvo muZanu-PF? Kwete.”
The President added that Zimbabweans should remain united to protect the country’s values.
He said the media also have a role to play in safeguarding Zimbabwean principles.
“The freedom of the individual, we cherish all this. But the freedom of the individual must always take cognisance of the freedoms of others, the common interest, the need for unity, the need for progress, the need for the rights of our nation, the protection of our nation, defence of our nation and the history of our country.
“We must protect that, our standing together, remaining together as a nation, avoiding divisive tendencies; our Press must help us in safeguarding these principles.”
He pointed out that Zanu-PF and Government should always be organised and adopt policies that meet the demands of the general populace.
Regarding the media, he said journalists should publicise and promote development policies without being used for personality attacks.
“That is what we want; your publicity must go in that direction. Let the people know what we want to do for them and let the people know what we want them to do for themselves.
“Let the nation know; let the outsiders know. Encourage the people to be organised; to be united. Don’t plant seeds to divide the people.
“Don’t make anyone in the party a political enemy. You may differ with the person, but he should never be your enemy and you want to attack him through the paper. Hatidi izvozvo. That’s no ideology. It’s destructive ideology. Progress must be made. There has to be morality.
Our principles must be right principles. We are fighting the British; we are fighting outside forces who would want us to surrender our resources to them. No. We have said, ‘No, no’. Our resources are our own. Colonisation again, never. Zimbabwe shall never be a colony again. Hatidi.”
President Mugabe said principles determine the direction individuals take and it was because of this reason that the country’s liberation fighters defeated the Smith regime.
He said the nationalists buried at the national shrine were true leaders and chided opposition party members who always raise questions about those interred.
He described Dr Shamuyarira as a straightforward person, who did not use his education to divide others.
The President said education does not create egoists, but made people humble and added that those who profess to know everything were “fools”.
