‘Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe wanted Mujuru as President,’ says Gumbo

FORMER Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo has accused President Mugabe of betrayal saying the veteran leader gave the elevation of Vice President Joice Mujuru a thumbs-up only for him to accuse her supporters of plotting his ouster.

Gumbo, who is one of Mujuru’s allies who have been purged ahead of the party’s elective congress pencilled for Tuesday, denied any plans to oust Mugabe saying Mujuru’s supporters are people who were committed to the values of the party.

Gumbo said when Mugabe promoted Mujuru ten years ago he gave the party members a blank cheque to either promote or keep her as the vice.

“From our point of view that’s what we were doing and now he is saying you stabbed me in the back,” said Gumbo in an interview with NewZimbabwe.com.

He added: “To be honest with you, I feel betrayed by Mugabe and, up to now, my conscience is very clear. I don’t believe in taking people’s lives and even during the war my role was really to give people correct information.”

Describing what happened on the day he was suspended, Gumbo said “everyone was stunned” and he personally felt like he “was struck by lightning” when, out of the blue, Mugabe “attacked me left right and centre.”

Gumbo said contrary to claims that he was plotting against Mugabe, he was kicked out of the party because he held different views on how the party should be run.

“They kicked me out because of my democratic views. For example, I am of the view that people should participate in the election of leaders, particularly when you are going to congress,” said Gumbo.

He added: “You don’t need to appoint people to important positions and you don’t have to change the constitution of the party in order to give you more powers in order to make those appointments.’
‘It’s supposed to be a democratic process”.

Source: NewZimbabwe