Zimbabwe VP Says, 'Western Interference in Country's Electoral Process Not to Be Tolerated'

Zimbabwe Vice President Joice Mujuru cuts a cake while Apostolic Faith Church Bishop Mika Mutangamidzwa and his wife Peggy Mungwariri look on at the church’s Centenary celebrations in Mhondoro on June 14, 2013., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

‘Western interference in country’s electoral process not to be tolerated’

Saturday, 15 June 2013 00:21
Felex Share Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe Herald

ZIMBABWEANS should be wary of Western countries bent on causing political disturbances in an attempt to discredit the electoral processes in the country, Vice President Joice Mujuru has said.

VP Mujuru said as the country geared for the harmonised elections on July 31, Western interference in the country’s electoral process would not be tolerated.

She made the remarks in Mhondoro yesterday while addressing hundreds of Apostolic Faith Church members during the church’s 100 years anniversary.

“We are a sovereign State and we are able to develop our country alone.

“We do not need guidance from Western countries as most of them have shown us that they are there to siphon our resources only,” VP Mujuru said.

“In a bid to achieve their targets some of them come to cause divisions among ourselves and while we will be fighting they will be busy looting our resources and this is a thing we should be wary of.”

VP Mujuru took a swipe at leaders of some political parties in the inclusive Government who are not able to solve their problems internally and seek the intervention of other countries.

“Some of us instead of sitting down for negotiations when there are disagreements, they go around the world seeking the intervention of other countries,” she said.

“This is a sign of immaturity because those countries do not have a say in our affairs and will never influence our operations.

Zimbabwean problems should be solved by the Zimbabwean people.”

Government, she said, would continue working with churches because the two were inseparable since the liberation struggle.

“Zanu-PF is about the people and churches are also about people meaning we will continue working hand in hand to improve the conditions and welfare of our people,” VP Mujuru said.

“The same applies with traditional leaders. Some people say Zanu-PF has patronised traditional leaders but how can you separate the revolutionary party with the custodians of the land (chiefs). Our people need land and Zanu-PF has been fighting for that since time immemorial and now to ensure everyone benefits it has to work with traditional leaders.”

She urged Zimbabweans to co-exist and tolerate each other ahead of the elections, saying Zanu-PF had resolved to expel party leaders and members who fan violence in the name of the revolutionary party.

“We have crafted our constitution as a party and one of the guidelines is that those who cause violence, be it leadership or ordinary members, in the name of Zanu-PF or President Mugabe, should be fired forever,” said VP Mujuru.

“Violence hinders development and it should never be given any chance.

“Despite different political affiliations, at the end of the day we will discover that we are all Zimbabweans.

“People should choose leaders of their choice and we also do not tolerate the imposition of candidates,” said VP Mujuru.

Churches, VP Mujuru said, should also participate in the indigenisation and empowerment programme being implemented by Zanu-PF.

“Some of you took the land reform programme for granted and were left out in the exercise but now we are moving towards economic empowerment and this is an opportunity you should make use of to empower yourself.”

Apostolic Christian Church of Zimbabwe Bishop Johannes Ndanga urged church members to register as voters and vote resoundingly for President Mugabe in the polls.

He said the sanctions imposed on the country by Western countries had brought untold suffering among Zimbabweans.

“This is the time to defeat the MDC and its allies once and for all. We have been made to appear as beggars simply because of sanctions but we remained vigilant and succeeded in the face of the embargo,” Bishop Ndanga said.

“We are always open that we support Zanu-PF because of its clear empowerment programme and we pledge to continue working with the revolutionary party forever.”

The celebrations were attended by senior Government officials and traditional leaders.