President Robert Mugabe yesterday pleaded for unity within his Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front as faction fighting continues because of lack of clarity on his succession.
“The spirit that binds us, the spirit that binds our parties is the same spirit that bound us yesterday as we fought for liberation together, and it is the same spirit that has motivated you to travel all the way to be with us today, ” he told delegates attending the party’s annual conference in Masvingo.
“And may that spirit continue to blossom as we move into the future kuti tirambe tiine mweya umwe chete wekubatana wataiva nawo zuro ticharwisa nevavengi – takabatana nyika nenyika; musangano nemusangano – tichinzwanana.
“Saka ndizvo zvatinokumbira kuti zvirambe zviripo, kwazvo-kwazvo. Mazuva ano tava hurumende, hatisisiri musangano chete.”
Two major factions are battling or power within the party, one called G40 which is allegedly loyal to First Lady Grace Mugabe though there are now reports that Mugabe himself leads that faction, and another called Lacoste which is allegedly loyal to Mugabe’s deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Below is Mugabe’s full speech:
Vice President and Second Secretary Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa and Amai Mnangagwa!
Vice President and Second Secretary Cde Phelekezela Mphoko and Amai Mphoko! (Inaudible)
We also recognise our respected visitor, Vice President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is Vice President of South Africa, who has been sent here by President Zuma to be with us and to attend our National People’s Conference.
We welcome you.
The Secretary for Administration, Cde Ignatious Chombo; Members of the Politburo, Central Committee and the National Consultative Assembly; the host chairman of Masvingo province and chairpersons of various provinces; war veterans, war collaborators, political detainees and restrictees; senior Government officials; service chiefs; representatives of business community; our traditional chiefs, and other traditional leaders here present; our church leaders here present; representatives of liberation movements and parties who are here with us; members of the diplomatic corps; student activists; invited guests; ladies and gentlemen; comrades and friends.
I warmly welcome you, welcome you all delegates to our 2016 National People’s Conference. Several of you have travelled long distances from your provinces to this venue, Masvingo, and a venue which we offer reverence.
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