In an interview with the UK’s Guardian newspaper, from Johannesburg, Moyo was asked to give his honest assessment of Mugabe’s weaknesses as a leader. “Contrary to the public image, I think he’s too tolerant of things and people. I always wish we could get him to sometimes be more decisive in dealing with misfits than he often is. He doesn’t have a history of firing people. I wish he could fire people more often,” he replied.
It was not clear whether Moyo was referring to the deadwood in Mugabe’s own party, some of whom have been in their ministerial posts since 1980.
Moyo also said the general elections in the UK last year had brought about a new dispensation which should make it possible for Zimbabwe and Britain to re-engage each other.
“The fact of the matter is, sooner or later Zimbabwe and the UK should engage each other. There are many reasons why that should be possible,” he said.
Zanu (PF) has consistently attacked the British Government over the past decade, accusing it of trying to re-colonise Zimbabwe.
Moyo, 54, has been described as “the dictator’s most notorious henchman” with a “deviously brilliant mind”. He is likely to be the mastermind of Zanu (PF)’s next election campaign, which, opponents say, will include propaganda aimed at demonising the rival MDC.
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Zimbabwean civil society groups and countless media reports have accused Zanu (PF) of killing, torturing and beating its opponents and rigging elections. Last week finance minister Tendai Biti of the MDC, whose home had been bombed, compared the mood in Zimbabwe with Rwanda on the eve of its 1994 genocide.
But Moyo told the Guardian: “Not to say we have not had violence in Zimbabwe because we’ve conceded that, and all the political parties have conceded that. But the way it’s blown out of proportion and there’s harrowing tales of torture chambers, I think it’s unfortunate.”
Alleging a gigantic conspiracy, he went on: “It’s going to collapse because sooner or later you will hear completely different stories. I don’t deny there have been cases of violence but the way they have been told and the extent of the incidents told has been exaggerated beyond what is rational.
“I’m not denying that you guys get told all sorts of horror stories, I’m just saying most of those stories, especially told by people who are refugees, are fictitious. They are looking for economic opportunity – these are economic refugees.”
Post published in: News