‘Mugabe Insists ‘National Criminals Status Is Only For Zanu PF, Not For Opposition’-Correct!

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has rubbished calls for transparency in the selection of national heroes, saying only his Zanu PF party has the mandate to decide who should be honoured.

Speaking during the Heroes Day celebrations Monday, Mugabe said the honour is only for those “who were and are consistently loyal to the liberation cause” and have their “patriotism selfless” and “determination, never questionable or in any doubt, at any point in time”.

“Often, I have found some misguided elements in our society denigrating our heroes and the national shrines where we have laid our heroes to rest.

“The misguided elements whom we share Zimbabwe with, have absurd, weird and wayward opinions on who should be declared a hero. Here and now, such people better be advised to stop entertaining themselves with mirages, which only exist in the minds of the misguided,” said Mugabe.

He added: “Let me make it abundantly clear that these sacred shrines are solely for our heroes who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of this country,” he said.

Mugabe said his government was not just restricting itself to the care of dead heroes but has given itself the task of “adequately ensuring the welfare and of and addressing the plight of veterans of the liberation struggle.”

The Heroes’ Day celebrations have long been a Zanu PF affair and opposition parties routinely boycott the event as Mugabe uses the platform to attack them.

For years, the MDCs have been demanding that the criteria used to nominate national heroes be open to the public and an independent body be established to oversee the process as opposed to the current situation where, as Mugabe says, “the Zanu PF politburo has the solemn right to do so”.

Former Vice President Joice Mujuru and a number of expelled Zanu PF members boycotted this year’s celebrations although they have relatives buried at the national heroes acre. source-newzimbabwe