But Mugabe has decided to put an end to this. “There are so many people in Zanu (PF) who are going about lying to the grassroots using the President’s name. He has decided to put a stop to that,” Gumbo said.
He accused the culprits of seeking to gain cheap political favours from the president and the people ahead of the next elections, but refused to give details. The party’s Secretary for Administration, who is also Minister of State in Mugabe’s Office, Didymus Mutasa, confirmed that party members tell lies in Mugabe’s name.
Political analyst Ernest Mudzengi said it was impossible for Mugabe to put an end to this practise, as he had tried in vain to do so before but nobody listened to him.
“Mugabe’s intension in making such calls is aimed at promoting peace, but we have heard this in the past, particularly when the old leader made calls against political violence. None of these have produced results, they are mere window dressing,” Mudzengi said.
But Gumbo insisted: “The President has spoken and if you are a patriotic member of the party, you will have to heed what he said.” Some observers blame Mugabe for the culture whereby his supporters use his name, saying he has encouraged personal worship, hence the readiness of people to endorse anything that is said in his name.
Post published in: News