Bitter Mugabe demands apology
Speaking at his 94th birthday celebrations, Robert Mugabe expressed his concern over Zanu-PF which he said can no longer be trusted.
A bitter Robert Mugabe says new President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his allies should apologise for last year's military operation that ousted him from power – and he doesn't think Zanu-PF will win this year's polls.
Mugabe made the comments at a private party held for him on Saturday at his Harare mansion to celebrate his 94th birthday.
“They must accept and apologise that what they did was wrong,” the private Standard newspaper quoted Mugabe as telling guests, who included ex-members of Mugabe's former cabinet.
He revealed that the ruling party still wanted to work with him ahead of elections due in July, but asked: “Can they be trusted again? Can our people vote for such a Zanu-PF, a Zanu-PF which shredded the constitution? I don't know.”
Mugabe was persuaded to step down last November in the wake of an army takeover. Parliament had already begun a process to impeach him.
Commented prominent newspaper publisher Trevor Ncube on Twitter: “In his speech at this 94th birthday celebrations Robert Mugabe sounds like he will start an opposition political party. Anger and bitterness have overtaken him.”
Gimme my benefits
The head of the AU commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat visited Zimbabwe last week and told state media that Zimbabwe's political transition was in line with its laws and constitution.
Zimbabwe's ex-president Robert Mugabe has reportedly demanded his pension and retirement benefits just less than two months after President Emmerson Mnangagwa gazetted the list of perks applicable to a retired president.
According the privately owned Zimbabwe Independent newspaper, Mugabe told visiting African Union's Moussa Faki Mahamat this week that his benefits were “being denied”.
The nonagenarian said the situation in the southern African country was worrying. He said that his security was not guaranteed.
“For instance, they told you, I was safe, but how can I be in this environment?
We have constitutional benefits, for example, but these are being denied.”
He continued, “It's not like I am crying for those benefits. I joined the struggle to fight to free my people, not to personally benefit anything, but why deny me benefits that I am constitutionally entitled to?” Mugabe reportedly queried.
“Anyway, just give us our benefits!” he said.
Mugabe was entitled to first-class air travel on four foreign trips per year; private houses and a veritable army of aides and domestic staff which also included a US$10 million pension.
The benefits were laid out in an official government notice published by Mnangagwa in December.
The notice said: “There shall be employed in connection with the residence of the former President (i) three domestic employees, and (ii) two gardeners, and (iii) two cooks and two waiters and (iv) two laundry persons.
The ex-president will also get security staff, office workers and aide de camp officers.
“He said that the country was being ruled by an illegal government that took over late last year.
Mugabe urged Mahamat to assist the country return to “democracy and normalcy”, said the report.
NEWS24
Mugabe made the comments at a private party held for him on Saturday at his Harare mansion to celebrate his 94th birthday.
“They must accept and apologise that what they did was wrong,” the private Standard newspaper quoted Mugabe as telling guests, who included ex-members of Mugabe's former cabinet.
He revealed that the ruling party still wanted to work with him ahead of elections due in July, but asked: “Can they be trusted again? Can our people vote for such a Zanu-PF, a Zanu-PF which shredded the constitution? I don't know.”
Mugabe was persuaded to step down last November in the wake of an army takeover. Parliament had already begun a process to impeach him.
Commented prominent newspaper publisher Trevor Ncube on Twitter: “In his speech at this 94th birthday celebrations Robert Mugabe sounds like he will start an opposition political party. Anger and bitterness have overtaken him.”
Gimme my benefits
The head of the AU commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat visited Zimbabwe last week and told state media that Zimbabwe's political transition was in line with its laws and constitution.
Zimbabwe's ex-president Robert Mugabe has reportedly demanded his pension and retirement benefits just less than two months after President Emmerson Mnangagwa gazetted the list of perks applicable to a retired president.
According the privately owned Zimbabwe Independent newspaper, Mugabe told visiting African Union's Moussa Faki Mahamat this week that his benefits were “being denied”.
The nonagenarian said the situation in the southern African country was worrying. He said that his security was not guaranteed.
“For instance, they told you, I was safe, but how can I be in this environment?
We have constitutional benefits, for example, but these are being denied.”
He continued, “It's not like I am crying for those benefits. I joined the struggle to fight to free my people, not to personally benefit anything, but why deny me benefits that I am constitutionally entitled to?” Mugabe reportedly queried.
“Anyway, just give us our benefits!” he said.
Mugabe was entitled to first-class air travel on four foreign trips per year; private houses and a veritable army of aides and domestic staff which also included a US$10 million pension.
The benefits were laid out in an official government notice published by Mnangagwa in December.
The notice said: “There shall be employed in connection with the residence of the former President (i) three domestic employees, and (ii) two gardeners, and (iii) two cooks and two waiters and (iv) two laundry persons.
The ex-president will also get security staff, office workers and aide de camp officers.
“He said that the country was being ruled by an illegal government that took over late last year.
Mugabe urged Mahamat to assist the country return to “democracy and normalcy”, said the report.
NEWS24
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