Harare - Zimbabwe’s information minister, Chris Mushohwe described Julius Malema as a “charlatan” after the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighter said earlier this week that President Robert Mugabe should retire as he was too old to govern. "He is no longer capable of discharging his responsibilities,” Malema said
Malema also accused Zanu PF leaders like Mushohwe of being “cowards” for supporting Mugabe as the party’s presidential candidate in elections in 2018.
Mushohwe said the Zimbabwe government finds Malema’s remarks " irritating …uncalled for and insulting."
He said Malema was “puny,” a “Gucci revolutionary…a shrunken, talkative joke..a charlatan who fancies himself big and cute enough to pass comment and judgment on developments elsewhere on the continent. What an embarrassment… We pity and dismiss him as an ignorant youth…”
He said that Mugabe enjoyed support among Zimbabweans of all age groups.
Malema also made it clear in his statement that he respected Mugabe for taking white-owned farms since 2000 and returning them to the people. He also made it clear he did not want frail Mugabe, who will celebrate his 93rd birthday next month, to destroy his legacy. And he jokingly referred to him as ‘Grandpa.'