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Chiwenga says squabbles in ZANU-PF are a passing phase but..

Zimbabwe Defence Forces chief Constantine Chiwenga says squabbles within the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front are a passing phase but he warned politicians to wage a clean campaign and not drag the defence force in. “Ours is to defend Zimbabwe, its people, its wealth, the independence and her national interest,” Chiwenga told The Herald.“What you have got to understand (is that) some people vavakuda zvigaro, akachishaya anombozama kumaramara, achipotsera madhaka uku, achipotsera kuti zviite, hazvishande. Go out there (and campaign). You can’t wish us away because we brought independence asi takasiya zvakadaro. This is the only country in the world where you have never seen military intervention, interfering with civilian rule. Iyezvi tiripano apa muri kutotibvunza isu tiri kuLesotho uko ndiko kwatinomhanyira kunogadzirisa the same people vakaita saivava vanotaura kuti isusu dai tatanga, ndabvisirwei dai ndaramba ndiripo. Tingaenda kunogadzisira vamwe isu tichiita the same thing muno umu? So, zvinopfuura, this is just a matter of time,” he said referring to Lesotho where the prime minister had to flee the country after squabbles there. ZANU-PF is holding its congress in December and there has been a lot of jostling for positions especially the top three- those of two vice-presidents and national chairman. The new constitution guarantees that the vice-president takes over to complete the term of the president if he or she dies in office. The previous constitution said a person could only act as president for 90 days after which elections had to be held. Mugabe has another four years in office.

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Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

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