In a meeting with African Union (AU) Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat in Harare on Monday, former president Robert Mugabe is reported to have claimed that his family was being harassed and that he was being denied his constitutional benefits as a former head of state. This is at odds with reports that Mugabe was going to receive a $10 million package, although, the state never confirmed the figure. Mugabe told Mahamat,
For instance, they told you, I was safe, but how can I be in this environment? My wife is crying daily. They are persecuting her; that is obviously directed at me. What am I without my wife and family. We are not safe. We have constitutional benefits, for example, but these are being denied.
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?
You need to assist us to bring this country to normalcy and democracy There is need for people’s rights to be restored and normal life to continue. Now there is no freedom of expression. If you disagree with them, then you must die.
We need the spirit of Kenneth Kaunda in this country, ‘One Zambia, One Nation’. This country I is now deeply divided along regional and tribal lines; that is wrong We want our own ‘One Zimbabwe, One nation’ Harassing and intimidating people must stop; witch-hunting against people, must stop.
Why are they harassing people Some of them are overzealous. How do you arrest a whole university vice-chancellor over lies about a PhD? Some of these people are just idiots, they are ignoramuses.
….Anyways, just give us our benefits.
..I’m going, to tell the truth; there is no more democracy anymore in Zimbabwe. How can it be Is there when the military is ruling? I’m saying this as Robert Mugabe and, of course, I am not afraid of anyone. I was imprisoned for 11 years by the Rhodesians so there is nothing to fear.
Also Read: This Is What Mugabe Will Get As Benefits After Resigning As Zimbabwe’s President
More: The Zimbabwe Independent