Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Jailed ZANU PF central committee member Mike Chimombe has voiced his full support for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 and the party’s decision to extend his term in office until 2030.
Chimombe also said he holds no grudge against Wicknell Chivayo and plans to “hug” him when he is finally released from prison.
Chimombe was recently sentenced to 12 years behind bars over a case linked to a US$87 million Presidential goat scheme tender.
He is serving his sentence at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison alongside his friend and business partner, Moses Mpofu.
During an open family week at the prison, Chimombe spoke to NewsDay’s Blessed Mhlanga. He revealed that he has instructed his lawyers to take the High Court’s judgment to the Supreme Court on appeal. Said Chimombe:
“Honestly, I thought my lawyers had done enough to secure an acquittal for me and even my friend; we were confident that the courts would see that our hands were clean and that there was a commitment on the part of Blackdeck Private Limited to fulfil all the conditions of the contract.
“I have respect for President Emmerson Mnangagwa and would never steal money meant to ensure that his Vision 2030 of an upper-middle-class economy is achieved.
“It is for this reason that I have instructed my lawyers to approach the Supreme Court to appeal the High Court judgment.
“I strongly believe a different court will arrive at a different ruling. So my life is just starting, not ending.
“My lawyers have cautioned me against speaking about the merits of the appeal, so I will not explain why I feel we have a strong case.
“I am, however, convinced that the Judiciary will exercise its mind fairly when the appeal is heard.
“I will also not comment on the allegations that this matter is political or not, but if we choose that path, how come people like Job Sikhala, who are opposition political players, were acquitted? I believe that justice will be delivered, albeit slowly. “
Chimombe said his love for ZANU PF has not faded, even amid claims that party colleagues played a role in his arrest and conviction. He said:
“To the contrary, I remain Zanu PF to the core — as regards my colleagues, it has taken two years of reflection, soul searching, recalibration and contrition, and on a balance of scales, one would say ‘let bygones be bygones’.
“I have a whole future ahead of me beckoning, a family waiting, party business stalled, and a constituency orphaned for two years also waiting in the background.
“When I return, I will do so in service to my country; that’s what matters, lessons learnt.
“You must also know that prison itself is a constituency and while I wait for my appeal, we have started work to push the agenda of nation-building and the President’s vision.”
Asked if he could make peace with Chivayo, who celebrated his imprisonment, Chimombe said he intends to let bygones be bygones. He said:
“The case for which I have been convicted has nothing to do with Wicknell Chivayo, and I do not intend to drag him into a matter that has nothing to do with him.
“Regarding our fallout, lessons were learnt and we picked up from there. The past two years were enough healing time for me.
“We will obviously consider each other brothers and will opt for a fresh start, inevitably.
“We will hug again as brothers in ZANU PF, and there are no permanent enemies in politics; in fact, we are united in purpose for Vision 2030 going forward.”
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