‘President Mnangagwa a peace ambassador’

‘President Mnangagwa a peace ambassador’

Nevanji Munyaradzi Chiondegwa

President Mnangagwa has been described as a man of peace and tolerance, who has managed to overcome insurmountable barriers and get opposition members to attend national events.
These views were shared by ZANU PF National Youth League Deputy Secretary for Commisariat, Cde Taurai Kandishaya in an interview with Review and Mail on Monday evening.
Cde Kandishaya described President Mnangagwa who is also President and First Secretary of ZANU PF as a peace ambassador after being questioned on allegations that ZANU PF is being violent as elections are approaching.
Cde Kandishaya denied the allegations and said, “As a party, we are used to such accusations from back in the days of the liberation struggle. Our military wing, ZANLA were labelled as violent thugs and terrorists but that did not deter them from fighting for independence of this country.”
He continued and said, “Going forward we are not worried over such accusations. Didn’t you see me playing soccer with CCC, was there any case of violence reported?”
Cde Kandishaya was making reference to when he took party in a Youth for Peace Sports tournament sponsored by 4H Foundation headed by John Muchenje.
The sports event held to celebrate Africa Day featured six political parties including ZANU PF and CCC and was held at Belvedere Technical Teacher’s College in the capital on 25 May in the capital.

To further display the level of tolerance and peace prevailing, Cde Kandishaya further said, “CCC SG Charlton Hwende and Organising Secretary Amos Chibaya attended, Independence Heroes and Defence events. Were they booed, harassed or frustrated? No. That means ZANU PF is peaceful.”
Opposition political members had for long shunned national events and under former President Mugabe, had never attended any national events. However, from Harare Mayors both Herbert Gomba and Jacob Mafume to Hwende and Chibaya, opposition functionaries have been gracing national events such as burials of heroes and celebration of the country’s Independence and Heroes Day functions.
Turning to President Mnangagwa, Cde Kandishaya said, “President Mnangagwa is the only political leader who has managed to bring opposition people to national events. They even attended his inauguration in 2017. He is a peace ambassador hence the setting up of Polad to bring all political voices to be heard.”
Cde Kandishaya highlighted how President Mnangagwa had managed to get appreciated by opposition stalwarts like MDC leader Douglas Mwonzora, a man who has been in opposition since 1992.
He said, “It’s not an easy feat to see an opposition guru in the name of Douglas Mwonzora appreciating ZANU PF government. That one is a senior opposition figure who has history of opposing from 1992, unlike Chamisa who started recently. So I say to Zimbabweans the only way to maintain peace is by voting ZANU PF and its leader, President Mnangagwa.”