Reply to dismissal from government

Posted by: webmaster

I HAVE today received a faxed letter from President Robert Mugabe informing me that he had with immediate effect relieved me of my duties as Cabinet Minister and as an appointed Member of Parliament.

I understand very well that he who appoints can also disappoint, unless one has been directly chosen or elected by the people themselves.

I therefore accept the President’s decision with humility and respect.
Given the manner in which my election by the people of Tsholotsho to the Ruling Party’s Central Committee was arbitrarily blocked at the ZANU PF Congress; how my selection by the same people of Tsholotsho to represent them in Parliament was blocked, how a few now powerful individuals in ZANU PF and Government across the country were made to suffer and many are still suffering for allegedly being connected with the so-called Tsholotsho Declaration that I stand falsely accused of having authored, how efforts by Chiefs from Tsholotsho to intervene on the issue of my candidacy were also blocked and how most of my administrative responsibilities and benefits as Cabinet Minister had been curtailed or withdrawn since November 18, 2004, how some Ruling Party politburo members were calling for my removal from both ZANU PF and the Government, I had come to accept that it was sunset and the letter the President faxed me today was most definitely on the way.

For the very same reasons, I had also come to understand and appreciate that it is far better to be with the people and to work for them than to be hostage to the whims and caprices of the politics of patronage. That is why I am standing as an Independent Candidate in Tsholotsho on March 31, 2005.

But when all is said and done, I remain most grateful to President Mugabe for having appointed me to serve him, the Ruling Party, the Government and the Nation since 2000. I believe I served loyally, professionally and with total dedication and commitment to national duty and I did so often at great risk to my person and my family which never had any time with or from me since I accepted President Mugabe’s appointment to ZANU PF and Government.

It is notable and I am sure history and posterity will record the fact that my service to the President started at a time when the Presidency, the Ruling Party and our Nation were individually and collectively facing an unprecedented onslaught from a number of hostile foreign interests and powers. I am very pleased that I had the honor and privilege to be one of the very few in the Ruling Party and the Government that played pivotal roles in the fight to preserve, defend and protect Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and democracy while also being able to promote development in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland region and our country.
Now that I have more time in my hands, I want to do more and better for the people in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland region and our beautiful country because I believe there is a rock somewhere upon which we can all develop a better Zimbabwe.

Prof Jonathan Moyo
Independent Candidate for Tsholotsho Constituency
Saturday, February 19, 2005