Now backing Simba Makoni’s presidential bid, Tekere told a meeting here that nationalist leaders received better treatment from the Smith regime than MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and several of his party activists suffered last year.
Tsvangirai and his fellow supporters were brutally assaulted by police while in custody after they were rounded up during a prayer meeting at Zimbabwe Grounds.
“Ian Smith’s regime never treated us in the manner in which Mugabe is doing to the opposition,” he said. “That’s the legacy of Zimbabwean governance.” He referred to Mugabe’s boasts of having “degrees in violence” to back up his point.
Smith’s regime was notorious for jailing and torturing independence activists during the turbulent 1970’s. But Tekere says the treatment nationalists endured under Smith was far from what the Mugabe’s government was doing to those opposed to his iron rule.
Tekere, who fled to Mozambique in 1975 with Mugabe to take a leading role in the liberation struggle, is contesting the March 29 polls as a senatorial candidate for Dangamvura-Chikanga, Mutare Central and Mutare North.
He is standing as an independent but representing Simba Makoni, the independent presidential candidate.
Tekere said international investors would flock to Zimbabwe as soon as Mugabe was deposed. “If they hear that Mugabe is no longer there, without being told who has taken over, they will run to this country and things will start moving,” he said.
Post published in: News