Last Saturday I
attended a Zimbabwe Union of Journalists organised launch of the association
of press clubs in Redcliff where he was the lead speaker.
Why do politicians take self-righteous, principled positions when they are
striving for power,or to soften their image and then abandon those same
cherished beliefs when it comes to implementation?
I have witnessed that kind of flip-flopping from Mnangagwa and it been one
of the more maddening and frustrating aspects of covering the Zimbabwe
election. He talks peace but directs violence.Talks acceptance but practises
confrontation.
Here are 4 flip flops by Emmerson Mnagagwa.
1.He told the press club:”You can see how mature we are. Once ZEC announces the run-off results and
the President has lost, I am the chief election agent, I will go to him and
say, ‘Mr President you have lost’, straight. We brought democracy. We must
defend it.”
Then he told a journalist:
“”There’s no way we are going to lose the run-off,” . “We are going to make
sure of that. If we lose. Then the army will take over.Never be fooled that
Tsvangirai will rule this country. Never.”
2.He told the press club:
“We had skirmishes in the three Mashonaland provinces and in Manicaland.”
3.He told the The Citizen:
“I have never seen any country in Africa as peaceful as this.
“Violence allegations are far-fetched because people are only dying in
newspapers, not in reality.”
He Told Reuters on May 2
“The president accepts the result as fair and is offering himself for
election in the presidential run-off.”
He told The Herald
“Zanu-PF and all its candidates, especially its presidential candidate, feel
aggrieved and were greatly prejudiced by attempts by the MDC and its
sponsors to tamper with the electoral system. This election has not been
free and fair”
4He told the press club:
We promote the concept of peace. In fact we are Christians. We believe in
peace. This should be the culture everywhere – runyararo (peace)
 throughout.”
He told a journalist:
“All this(Army and Militia deployment in Rural Areas) was done while you
people waited for the recount,” “There is also mobilisation of financial and
social resources such as food for the masses as we want nothing short of an
outright victory. We cannot allow ourselves to give a puppet this country on
a silver platter.”
Contact the writer of this story, Tongai at : harare@zimbabwemetro.com
Post published in: News