Mugabe had lust for power: Gumbo

This is Part 3 of a series of Interviews with Rugare Gumbo now ZANU PF spokesperson published by government-controlled The Herald newspaper on the eve of Zimbabwe’s first elections in 1980 in which he shared his views on President Robert Mugabe’s treatment of his political opponents, and his lust for power.

MUGABE ACCUSED OF LUST FOR POWER, (The Herald 30 January 1980)

By Political Reporter

The spokesman for the ZANU PF dissidents now in Salisbury Mr Rugare Gumbo, yesterday accused Mr Mugabe of an inordinate lust for power. He told a press conference that the ZANU PF leader, who returned to Rhodesia from Mozambique on Sunday, was “totally opposed to unity” because Mr Mugabe and “his clique” felt only they are entitled to rule Zimbabwe.

Mr Gumbo said the dissidents had been detained because they had differed with Mr Mugabe on the “crucial issue” of national unity.

He accused Mr Mugabe of ordering the detention in 1977 of the entire Zimbabwe people’s army command and all field commanders, except Mr Rex Nhongo, the present ZANLA commander.

A year later six members of the central committee, three members of the high command and several field commanders were also detained, he added.

Mr Gumbo said his group was detained by the Mozambiquean government at the request of Mr Mugabe after they had demanded the creation of a single “national army” embodied in ZIPRA and “organic unity” In the patriotic front as a first step to unity.

He also charged that Mr Mugabe had masterminded a rebellion against the Rev. Ndabaningi Sithole and hindered unity moves before, during and after the abortive Geneva conference of 1976.