Edgar Tekere says Mugabe did not kill Tongogara

By Lance Guma
12 January 2007

Edgar Tekere, the first senior Zanu PF official to challenge Robert Mugabe after independence, on Thursday launched his long awaited book ‘A lifetime of Struggle.’ He was joined at the book launch by former defence minister Enos Nkala who a few months ago announced he was also writing a book to be published after his death. Tekere’s book follows in the footsteps of the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo who also wrote ‘The Story of my life.’ Both books are being published by the Sapes Trust owned by former Daily Mirror publisher Ibbo Mandaza who lost his papers to the Central Intelligence Organisation. Tekere says in his new book that Mugabe betrayed the revolution.

In the book Tekere talks about his boyhood right up to the present day. He tells the reader of how Mugabe tried to get rid of him by giving him a post at the United Nations. He argues it was necessary to write the book and give an accurate account of the liberation struggle. Tekere told journalists he spent 6 years writing the book. He explains how he was booted out of the ruling party following his opposition to the setting up of a one party state. He claims in his book that at one time in a heated meeting, the late Morris Nyagumbo had to come between himself and Mugabe, suspecting Tekere wanted to assault him.

He reveals how the late Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere wondered how Mugabe would run Zimbabwe without Tekere soon after they fell out. Mugabe, according to Tekere, was also opposed to current Zanu PF information secretary Nathan Shamuyarira rejoining Zanu PF after falling out in the 1970’s. Mugabe apparently said; ‘you are going to regret this. Shamuyarira is a bad character. He is going to cause us trouble in the Party. He is a very tricky man.’

Tekere took time at the press conference to absolve Mugabe of killing legendary army commander Josiah Tongogara. "I have heard it whispered that Mugabe killed Tongogara. That is not true. Mugabe did not doctor anything in Comrade Tongogara's death. "He died in an accident, simple! When Tongogara died, he was in the middle of disobeying orders from our host Samora Machel who warned that it was dangerous driving at night up north Maputo towards the rural areas. ‘In fact, Machel warned us after Tongogara had earlier been involved in an accident when his VW Beatle rammed into a buffalo. Tongogara was the only survivor. Five other people died in the first crash," said Tekere.

Political analyst Kurauwone Chihwayi told Newsreel Tekere’s book would further fuel divisions in Zanu PF which are already at a boil over whether Mugabe should extend his term of office from 2008 to 2010. He commended Tekere for having the courage to set the record straight; showing to all that Mugabe was in fact a ‘mafikizolo’ (newcomer) to the struggle who joined Zanu PF via Tekere’s invitation. Chihwayi however expressed disappointment that Tekere still refuses to join the opposition choosing instead to accommodate a humiliating re-entry into the Zanu PF fold.