Mugabe dresses down Mat South governor

Mugabe dresses down Mat South governor

REBUKE: Mugabe refused to buy Masuku's claims of a Zanu PF clean sweep in Matabeleland South

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By Lindie Whiz

AN ATTEMPT to curry favour with President Robert Mugabe ended in embarrassment for Matabeleland South governor Angeline Masuku last Saturday, when the 84-year-old leader told her point blank: “I don’t trust you.”

Masuku was left shell shocked after Mugabe – who was in Beitbridge to celebrate his 84th birthday -- appeared to reject her assurances that Zanu PF would win elections in the province next month.

Masuku was briefing President Mugabe at a closed door meeting also attended by Zanu PF officials and traditional leaders when she met the unexpected response.

A source who attended the meeting revealed: "Masuku first briefed the President on the food situation, farming prospects, and other government projects in her province. Things went well until she came to the elections.

“She told the president that everyone in her province was solidly behind Mugabe and the party would win all seats and wards and the presidential election there.

"Mugabe, who all along listened quietly, interjected and said ‘we will see that on March 30’ (a day after the polls). Masuku looked shuttered by those comments, and we all felt for her in the room.

“She suddenly lost her confidence as she continued with the last part of her presentation. She went on to say even chiefs could vouch for her that the people in the province were behind Zanu PF and the President.

"She turned to the chiefs and said: ‘Tell the President what you have always told me. He wants to hear it from you’.”

Chief Mzimuni Masuku is said to have volunteered to save the day for the red-faced governor after the other five elderly chiefs appeared not so eager to speak at the occasion.

Our source revealed: "The young chief assured Mugabe that the people were behind him. The chief quickly switched into thanking the president for giving traditional leaders cars, scotch carts, ploughs and other farming implements and money.”

Other officials who attended the briefing said Masuku and the Zanu PF provincial leadership were shaken by Mugabe's comments, which implied that he doubted their sincerity.

Zanu PF leaders in Matabeleland – most of whom rely on Mugabe for appointments into high office after losing elections – are known to seek favours from Mugabe by briefing against each other and not revealing the true extent of his government’s unpopularity.

Masuku in particular has been mentioned in connection with politicians within Zanu PF who are opposed Mugabe's continued stay in power. Zanu PF insiders said they felt Mugabe used the occasion to show that he doubted the province's loyalty to him.

Zanu PF has only has two House of Assembly seats in Matabeleland South won during the 2005 parliamentary elections.

Meanwhile, police details had a tough time stopping school children from trooping out of Dulibadzimu Stadium -- venue of Mugabe's birthday bash. Mugabe arrived at the venue around 2PM Saturday, while the school kids had been paraded at the sun-scorched venue as early as 7AM.

In addition to the heat, the pupils also complained of hunger. Police officers formed a cordon and made sure the children do not leave until after 4PM when the official programme was over.

Efforts to coerce locals to attend the bash failed, leaving the organisers to rely on schools to bring their pupils. Apart from Zanu PF political commissar Elliot Manyika's energetic singing and toyi-toying, this year's event was dull and poorly-attended compared to previous events.

Mugabe used the occasion to fire salvos at his opponents in the March 29 polls -- Simba Makoni and Morgan Tsvangirai. Even MDC faction leader, Arthur Mutambara, got flak from Mugabe's for not contesting and lending his support to Makoni.
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