Kasukuwere vows to unite Zimbabwe, slams Mnangagwa’s failures
Former Zanu PF bigwig Saviour Kasukuwere has declared his intention to run for president as an independent candidate, saying Zimbabwe deserves better than President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s failed leadership.
In a statement released on Monday, Kasukuwere, who was once a close ally of Mnangagwa, accused him of betraying the ideals of the liberation struggle and presiding over a divided, corrupt and impoverished nation.
Kasukuwere, who fled the country after the 2017 coup that ousted former president Robert Mugabe, said he decided to challenge Mnangagwa after being denied a fair chance to contest for the party presidency at the 2017 and 2022 congresses.
He said Mnangagwa had used intimidation and state institutions to secure his position and silence dissenting voices within and outside the party.
He also said Mnangagwa had failed to deliver on his promises of economic recovery, social services, infrastructure development, security sector reforms and international re-engagement.
He said Zimbabwe could not afford another five years of Mnangagwa’s misrule and called on the people to choose hope over fear in the upcoming election.
Kasukuwere said he would seek to unite the country through an “Intra Zimbabwe Dialogue” process that transcends political affiliations.
He also said he would restore the dignity and respect of the party structures and the traditional leaders, who he said had been sidelined and disrespected by Mnangagwa’s cronies and relatives.
He said Mnangagwa had surrounded himself with criminals who were involved in gold smuggling, looting and living lavishly at the expense of the masses.
He said Mnangagwa had dishonoured the legacy of Mugabe and the values of the liberation movement.
“Cde Mnangagwa must give the party a chance to choose between the future and the past, between hope and fear,” he said.
