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Blessings Chidakwa in Kadoma
THE Zanu-PF Youth League has warned former president Mr Robert Mugabe that he risks losing his legacy like his erstwhile colleague, the late Ndabaningi Sithole, who could not even be buried at the National Heroes’ Acre when he died in 2000.

Addressing Zanu-PF youth leaders in Kadoma last week, the league’s national political commissar, Cde Godfrey Tsenengamu, said Mr Mugabe should urgently mend his ways.

He said no one was above the party and Mr Mugabe could die an ordinary party member.

“There are reports that Cde Mugabe is now fronting a new political outfit, National Patriotic Front, his aim being only to spoil Zanu-PF’s votes,” he said.

“Since Mugabe has sacrificed to be an opposition figure, he risks losing Zanu-PF benefits, including being buried at the National Heroes Acre.”

Cde Tsenengamu said Zanu-PF founding members like Sithole could not be honoured when they died.

“There are many who also thought they would automatically be buried there, but lost it along the way,” he said.

“If Mugabe views himself being above the party, he is lost as he is just but one person.”

Cde Tsenengamu said Mr Mugabe did not want to relinquish the presidency.

“Mugabe was not ready to vacate the post,” he said. “In fact, he was prepared to see the country crumbling while he enjoyed power. We regarded him as an intelligent leader, but he was now lost as people were being harassed and fired in the party willy-nilly under his leadership.”

Cde Tsenengamu said the former president’s recent actions were a clear sign that he was ungrateful to President Emmerson Mnangagwa for honouring him.

“President Mnangagwa respected Mugabe and said he was his leader and mentor,” he said. “He also gave him a lot of privileges, including pension and security benefits.

“We thought Mugabe would return the favour by supporting his counterpart. This proved wrong as he is now living true to his word that, shoko rechigaro changu moritaura ndafa iri.”

Cde Tsenengamu said during Mr Mugabe’s rule, youths and war veterans were the major victims as they were openly defying the ascendency of expelled Zanu-PF member Mrs Grace Mugabe to power.

“In 2014, when Joice Mujuru was fired, we thought it was a genuine cause, but I remember when Grace called us as seven provincial youth chairpersons, including Cde Vengi Musengi, that we should fire then Vice President Mnangagwa to pave way for her, we openly refused and said enough was enough,” he said.

“We were then fired from the party.”

Cde Tsenengamu urged Zimbabweans to be patient with President Mnangagwa as he fixes the economy.

“Be patient with our President,” he said. “The country was destroyed over a long time and it takes a bit of time to rebuild. Our President has started on the right direction, investors are now flocking in.”

Zanu-PF youth leaders attending the meeting, including Mashonaland West provincial youth chairman Cde Musengi and political commissar Cde Tapiwa Chitate, also denounced the former president.