Speaking shortly after the political impasse within the inclusive government towards the end of 2009, Mamba said Mugabe was respectful not only to his fellow heads of state but also to fellow political co-habitant Morgan Tsvangirai.
Occasionally, however, he let this façade slip like when he remarked about Tsvangirai that “every village has its idiot”.
Mamba said Mozambican leader Armando Guebuza was not likely to do anything about Mugabe because of their historical background. The same applied to South African President Jacob Zuma, who did not want to do anything that would upset his relationship with Guebuza.
Mamba, who said he was close to Zimbabwean Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi as they had served as ambassadors in New York at the same time, said Mumbengegwi had at one time told him that Tsvangirai had little influence in Zimbabwe.
“Yes, he may have won the election, but it was because of a protest vote,” Mamba reported him as saying.
Mamba said the way forward was for both Mugabe and Tsvangirai to step down and not contest any future presidential elections.
Post published in: News