The Sunday News
NEWLY appointed Zanu-PF Second Secretary and First Vice President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa has said he has no hard feelings towards the perpetrators of his foiled assassination attempt after cyanide was sprinkled in his office at Zanu-PF headquarters.
In an interview on the sidelines of his visit to Queen of Peace Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Centre in Gweru yesterday, Cde Mnangagwa said he would not seek revenge against the culprits but would let the police independently conduct their investigations.
“We dislodged the British who were oppressing us and this was achieved in 1980. Since then we have been a sovereign state. We have been advocating unity. We want people to love and protect each other.
“The fact that I have received some threats on my life has nothing to do with our focus to unite our people; protect each citizen’s life. The sense of revenge is satanic. What happened does not affect bold people like us. The fact that I did not die means that it was not my time to die. When God’s time comes no man born out of a woman shall escape,” he said.
He also rubbished claims by some sections of the media that he masterminded the demise of his predecessor, Cde Joice Mujuru.
He described the claims as mere speculation and said he would not dignify such allegations by responding to or dwelling on them.
“Such allegations must be responded to by the privately owned media who are making such baseless claims. You have to ask them about such matters. I cannot respond to speculation being done by the private media,” he said.
Cde Mnangagwa said it was normal that some of the members of the party who had hoped to be in the Central Committee had failed to make it.
“Former Vice President Mujuru was not elected into the Central Committee. She is not the only one but there are so many others in the party who failed to make it. That is very normal,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cde Mnangagwa paid a visit to his rural home in Mapanzure area in Zvishavane where he expressed gratitude to President Mugabe for appointing him as the revolutionary party’s second secretary and First Vice President.
Cde Mnangagwa said he wanted to first inform his relatives about his elevation to the post of Vice President before inviting his colleagues and counterparts to officially thank President Mugabe for appointing him.
“President Mugabe is a principled man. He is someone who is consistent in whatever he does. It was yesterday when we were sworn in by President Mugabe. I then decided to come and tell my aunt of this new development,” he said.
Cde Mnangagwa said he together with President Mugabe had been together in the struggle for over 50 years.
“God had planned things for me. I remember all the members of the 1964 crocodile group have passed on and I am the only surviving member. I was also sentenced to death but again I escaped. I assure you that I will not forget all the people that were with me. Some of you might think that I am going to be too busy to meet the people. I have now become a servant to the people more than I have ever been,” he said.
Cde Mnangagwa called for peace among party members throughout the country.
Zanu-PF Politburo member Cde Josiah Hungwe said Cde Mnangagwa was rewarded for his patience after waiting for so long.
“Our ways are not God’s ways. God has his own time. Cde Mnangagwa has been rewarded for being patient. He has been a dedicated and loyal member of the party,” he said.
Cde Mnangagwa was accompanied by Bishop Andrew Wutawunashe, Cde Cephas Msipa, Chief Fortune Charumbira and Shurugwi South Member of Parliament, Cde Tapiwa Matangaidze, among other party and senior Government officials.
