Edgar Tekere says criticism has fuelled book sales

By Lance Guma
24 January 2007

Veteran nationalist Edgar Tekere has said criticism of his book, ‘A lifetime of Struggle,’ in the state controlled media has helped fuel it’s sales. In an interview on our Behind the Headlines series, Tekere said people are buying the book because the negative publicity he is receiving is making them curious. He says he has a reputation for standing for the truth and ordinary people know he has been persecuted for doing this in the past. ‘I don’t tolerate nonsense and people know this.’ Tekere broke away from Zanu PF in 1990 over attempts to introduce a one-party state and formed the Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM), which saw him garner at least 16 percent of the presidential vote.

Tekere has threatened to sue the Herald newspaper over some of the articles they are running on his book and says he knows they are, ‘overly keen to please Mugabe.’ Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri has already called Tekere an alcoholic with a long history of violence and mental instability, while Mugabe’s spokesman George Charamba spoke of how Mugabe had saved Tekere from financial ruin a few years ago. Tekere says he has already reminded the Herald of a previous lawsuit in which he successfully sued for defamation and the paper had to pay him Z$20 000, then a lot of money.

Commenting on allegations that the Zanu PF youth league had recommended his dismissal from the party, Tekere says the issue has created major divisions within the ruling party. ‘The so-called resolution,’ he said, ‘has not been endorsed by all the provinces.’ He says information available to him suggests the youth chairman, in cahoots with John Nkomo the national chairman, are behind attempts to have him expelled. He says several senior Zanu PF politicians have congratulated him on writing the book and says its only a few who are trying to please Mugabe who are speaking out. Tekere brushed aside any fears over his security, remarking in a joking manner, ‘I have many shock absorbers in my body.’

N.B The full interview between Lance Guma and Edgar Tekere on Behind the Headlines will be aired next week Thursday (01/02/07).