Mugwadi Dares Kasukuwere

Exiled former minister Saviour Kasukuwere has been told to come back home and challenge President Mnangagwa in 2023. Zanu-PF information director Tafadzwa Mugwadi said this on Sunday at their party headquarters.

Kasukuwere, who fled into self-imposed exile in 2017 during the military coup that overthrew the late former President Robert Mugabe, has expressed willingness to contest Mnangagwa in next year’s polls. Mugwadi said the borders were open for Kasukuwere to come and contest:

“Kasukuwere claims that he can win an election in Zimbabwe. The borders are very open for him to come and campaign in Zimbabwe. Our airports have been modernized and he can get his clearance just minutes after landing in the country. He should just come and contest rather than make noise on the fringes. The battle is about numbers; he should look at himself in the mirror and introspect. It’s actually cold out there, he will be defeated.”

Efforts to get a comment from Kasukuwere were fruitless yesterday. Meanwhile, Zanu PF has readmitted Mashonaland East province bigwigs who were suspended in 2018 for contesting elections as independent candidates.

Former Goromonzi West legislator Biata Nyamupinga and former provincial member Richard Mavhunga have been readmitted. Former diplomat Noah Mangondo is also set to bounce back, although he is yet to receive his readmission letter. Mangondo was suspended after contesting as an independent candidate against the late Joel Biggie Matiza in Murewa South during the 2018 elections.

Both Mavhunga and Mangondo were barred from contesting in the March 26 Marondera Central and Murewa South by-elections, respectively. Mavhunga yesterday confirmed his readmission, although he did not divulge more details.