By Farai D Hove| The ZANU PF G40 faction has celebrated the said “breakthrough” meeting between former President Robert Mugabe and the African Union’s commission chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat.
The meeting comes after the G40 now called The New Patriotic Front (NPF), had appealed to the African Union for intervention over the November coup that toppled Mugabe, saying it was allegedly illegal and violent.
Announcing on Twitter and Facebook portals, the G40 said the visit by the African Union to Mugabe’s Blue Roof residence was the first “sign that our petition has now reached the AU.”
The NPF also said the “junta” becomes unsettled by anything Robert Mugabe says.
Just one statement from Cde Robert Mugabe to the public will cause the junta and coup conspirators defecate themselves.
— TEAM G40 #NewPatrioticFront (@TeamG40) February 20, 2018
‘Wife persecuted’
The development also comes after Robert Mugabe was quoted saying he is not at all safe and his wife is being persecuted.
“They told you I was safe, but how can I be in this environment?,” Mugabe reportedly told Faki.
“My wife is crying daily. They are persecuting her… What am I without my wife and family? We are not safe,” the Zimbabwe Independent quoted Mugabe as saying, as it cited “detailed notes” supplied by officials who attended the meeting.
Mugabe said his wife was being harassed over her PhD from the University of Zimbabwe. Last week UZ Vice Chancellor Levi Nyagura was arrested for alleged abuse of office for awarding her the degree in 2014. Critics say her thesis is nowhere near PhD standard.
‘Ruling through guns’
Mugabe reportedly insisted to Faki the PhD was genuine: “I used to see her here working hard day and night. I would assist her here and there, so how can someone wake up and claim she didn’t work for it? This is harassment.”
According to the leaked notes, Mugabe told Faki that Mnangagwa’s appointment as president was illegal, and appealed to the AU to help restore democracy in the country.
“We want you to assist to restore normalcy and democracy in the country and stop this thing of ruling through guns,” he reportedly said.