I’m sorry — Acting President Mujuru

[JANUARY 26, 2011]

ACTING President Joice Mujuru has apologised for the behaviour of Zanu PF supporters who last week invaded resort lodges and camps at Lake Chivero.

The invasions sent a chilling reminder of the chaotic and violent land invasions that hit the country in the past decade, spearheaded by Mujuru’s Zanu PF party.

On Monday, owner of Kuimba Shiri, Gary Stafford, said Mujuru held a meeting with a state tourism company to discuss the matter and she asked that her apologies to be extended to the victims of the invasions.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) confirmed in a statement that Mujuru had sent her apologies and an assurance that nothing of the sort would happen ever again.

“Special mention goes to the Acting President, Amai Joice Mujuru, for her prudent guidance in the matter,” the ZTA said. “She has since instructed the tourism authorities to assure the tourism players and the nation that these unfortunate circumstances will not recur.”

NewsDay was yesterday inundated with calls from owners of the properties that had been invaded who were confirming having received Mujuru’s apology.

Though several of the affected people said there were no damages done to their properties during the three-day siege, Peter Morris, chairman of Sailors Association of Zimbabwe, said his club failed to host the national soccer team because of the disturbances.

“We could not host the national team as a result of the invasion,” he said.

This is not the first time Mujuru has apologised for actions by members of her party.

Recently, she told a business meeting in Harare that the Zanu PF leadership was usually unaware what its members were doing and that they were sometimes not informed correctly.

Mujuru said Zanu PF was ready to change its ways and close ranks with critical constituencies such as business and local communities in order to make up for its mistakes and appease the aggrieved.

Mujuru said then: “You can imagine how we felt as a party, as freedom fighters, to hear that the people were no longer with us. It’s painful,” she said.

“Why do we have to sleep with one eye open thinking somebody is going to harm me? It has happened in the communities and we end up saying its President Robert Mugabe. Yet, its someone else who has orchestrated that mishap on you. (President) Mugabe doesn’t know.”

The lake invaders were however kicked out of the lodges at the weekend by armed riot police.

Zanu PF ministers and politburo members, among them the party’s secretary for lands, Ignatius Chombo, disowned the invaders describing them as a group of rowdy and misguided elements who were not Zanu PF supporters.

The invaders were, however, carrying Zanu PF flags, singing the party’s revolutionary songs, chanting party slogans and had hoisted a banner with the face of President Mugabe in front of the gates of one of the invaded properties.

ZTA chief executive officer Karikoga Kaseke yesterday acknowledged the disturbances and said such rowdy behaviour thwarted efforts to have the country branded as the “Wonder of the World”.

Curiously, however, Kaseke described some of the leaders of the infamous lake invasion as “dignified individuals”.

“As the tourism and hospitalityindustry, we sincerely regret that we acknowledge these demonstrations embarked on the facilities by our country youths (sic),” he said.

— NewsDay