BULAWAYO – ZIMBABWEANS made a mistake in endorsing the military coup that toppled former President Robert Mugabe in November last year, as it only handed power back to Zanu PF, ZAPU leader Dumiso Dabengwa said on Saturday.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was catapulted into power by the coup, has so far failed to carry out meaningful reforms, he added.
Speaking at an MDC Alliance rally held at White City Stadium in Bulawayo, Dabengwa – who is backing Nelson Chamisa for President – said it was regrettable that the thousands who marched to support the army’s moves against former President Robert Mugabe were now being made to question their eagerness to place their trust in the military.
“If you recall at the end of November, the people here in Harare, Bulawayo, the Diaspora and everyone gathered to support the military intervention. They thought change had come and all of us showed solidarity, we showed we were one people,” Dabengwa said.
“However, those who were given a chance run the country have completely failed and the entire liberation struggle people went through was in vain,” he lamented.
Mnangagwa referred to the people’s support as “the voice of God”, but that was just him mocking Zimbabweans’ blindsightedness, he said.
“After we realised the mistake that was made by the army, after we had shown support (through the march in November), the army handed everything over back to Zanu PF. Not only that but the army also came in and in order to camouflage what would have been a coup, they also decided to come into cabinet,” said Dabengwa.
Turning to the decision to support Chamisa and forego his own presidential ambitions, he said he saw an “opportunity that we must seize to bring our people in Zimbabwe together and make sure we fulfil their wishes they spelt out in that march in November last year.”
“People want a fresh start and this is what we’re doing now,” he said.
He said after it became apparent the military was in cahoots with Zanu PF, the opposition had to rally efforts to work together in order to win and reclaim the country.
“We decided to gather all the opposition parties and say, why not come together and have one candidate as the president? I took the initiative to talk to a number of opposition leaders but because most of them also wanted to be presidents, the whole talks failed and collapsed,” Dabengwa narrated.
“We then finally, after we had failed to have other people join us, agreed on a political cooperation with the MDC Alliance. We said all ZAPU members and supporters must vote Chamisa as president, but not to forget to vote for ZAPU candidates (for MP and council).”
Dabengwa pointed out he knows of Chamisa’s capabilities to mobilise around a cause and lead because when he was the Home Affair Minister, he used to have run-ins with the youthful leader of the Zimbabwe National Students’ Union (Zinasu).
“We want to bring order to this country because there is no order now. Zanu PF is incapable of bringing about change. It has failed – it does matter how many more years you give them they will never be able to bring about any progressive change,” said Dabengwa.
Chamisa said in appreciation of Dabengwa’s support in the elections, he would be assigned a special role in government as an adviser to the president if he wins elections ion July 30.
The rally was also attended by Alliance principal Professor Welshman Ncube.
