…he has failed on his own promises
…4ED groups undermining elected leadership
Brighton Chiseva
MASVINGO – Just like what the then fugitive and now President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa did in 2017, exiled former Zanu PF heavy weight Savior Tyson Kasukuwere has penned a letter to Zimbabweans declaring his ambitions to run for presidency in the August 23 harmonized elections, saying the incubent is the worst President in the history of Zimbabwe.
In the letter, Tyson, as Kasukuwere was fondly known as in Zanu PF during his heydays, said Mnangagwa was not supposed to be allowed to run for any leadership position because he destoryed the country.
“The question for the party is whether Cde Mnangagwa must be allowed to fail for another five years at the expense of the people of Zimbabwe? The country cannot afford another five years of toxic political differences, a failed economy, and social strife. It is time to settle this by throwing this matter back to the people through this election for them to make a choice between fear and hope” reads the letter.
He said his decision to run for presidency was premised on people’s calls for him to come and represent them.
“I humbly write to you on the eve of the sitting of the nomination court to inform you that I have considered your plea for my return home to participate in our 2023 electoral processes. I accept the call to run for Office of President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
He said he was running as an independent candidate and the decision was necessitated by two opportunities that were missed in the 2017 and 2022 congresses.
“My decision to stand as independent, as painful as it is, arises out of two missed opportunities. Both in December 2017 and September 2022, our party congress failed to allow fair competition for the Presidency. As a result, it failed to unite the, membership, forgive the past and reconcile for the future of our glorious revolution.
Unfortunately, to this day, notwithstanding a promise to let bygones be bygones, post-November 2017 and a pledge to “restore the legacy” and values of our liberation movement, we continue to witness exclusionary politics; persecution of members who loyally served the people, the party, the government, and the late founding President, Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe,” reads part of the letter
The letter further says Mnangwangwa could not and will not win any leadership post in a free and fair process and said he has failed in all his post November 2017 promises.
“Our position was and remains clear, that without intimidation, and abuse of state institutions, Cde Mnangagwa could never have won and cannot win any leadership position in a fair and open political process,”
“Post-November 2017, together, we all gave the “new dispensation” leadership space to govern and to make responsible decisions in uniting the party and the country. In his 2018 campaign, Cde Mnangagwa promised to deliver health care for all, electricity, he promised the youth jobs, he promised educational reforms; he promised modern railway system; he promised to mechanise, modernise and grow the economy; he promised to conduct social and security reforms that predicate our international reengagement needs. On all counts, he has failed on his own promises,” reads part of the letter.
Kasukuwere accused the ForED organizations of wielding more power than the Zanu PF party structures and undermined elected party leaders and said Mnangagwa should allow people to choose between the past and the future.
“The leaders of these dodgy “for ED” groups have unlimited access to Cde Mnangagwa and unlimited resources while the party structures remain unfunded. You have witnessed these developments; you have seen the photographs of their flamboyant lives and association with Cde Mnangagwa and you have not been allowed to openly question these shenanigans,”
“We need to renew politics in our country, reassert and give back power to the people. Cde Mnangagwa must give the party a chance to choose between the future and the past, between hope and fear,” reads the letter.
He further castigated Mnangagwa and his family saying they had taken over imports, distribution, and sale of fuel are involved in almost all the multi-billion-dollar Belarus deals.
Kasukuwere accused Mnangagwa of reversing the gains of the indigenization policy and the land reform programme.
