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Takunda Maodza, Harare Bureau
FORMER Zanu-PF national political commissar, G40 cabalist and National Patriotic Front member, Mr Saviour Kasukuwere, returned home yesterday after spending six months and six days in self-imposed exile.

He fled the country last November together with other G40 cabalists Professor Jonathan Moyo and Mr Patrick Zhuwao, who remain in exile.

Mr Kasukuwere, who was aboard a South African Airways plane, landed at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport at midday.

Dressed in a blue suit, red tie and a brown leather cap, Mr Kasukuwere immediately declared that he was staying out of politics and focusing on his businesses and farming.

He said it was sweet to be back home and also confirmed life was not rosy abroad.

Asked how he survived, Mr Kasukuwere said: “You have to manage, can’t you? Why would you want me to stay outside the country? You want me to remain outside the country? Unoda kuenjoya wega muno munyika iwewe? This is my home so I must come back home. No push factors. Nothing. Home sweet home.”

Mr Kasukuwere said he was staying out of politics.

“Tyson remains Tyson. Relaxed. Going farming. You know we are beneficiaries of the land reform. There is business to be done, that is the future. We will continue to work.

“You see for every soccer player, there must come a time when he takes a decision that today I am not playing soccer. Maybe later but for now am just taking it easy. I will just run my business. Go farming. Keep relaxed.”

Mr Kasukuwere said he made a personal decision to come back home.

“This is a personal decision. I come to my country. This is my country. I come because I am a Zimbabwean. I was born here. I will die here,” he said.

Mr Kasukuwere confirmed he was ready for his day in court if there are any charges preferred against him.

He would not respond to condemnation by fellow G40 and NPF members Prof Moyo and Mr Zhuwao, who accuse him of selling out to the new administration.

“You do not respond whenever they say something. You have to learn in life as an individual that there are times you have to make decisions that are in the interests of the individual. I have interests in farming and I have interests in the country,” said Mr Kasukuwere, adding that “this was a very difficult period and time.”

When asked about the State capture by the G40 cabal led by former First Lady, Mrs Grace Mugabe, he said: “I am sure you can talk to her. I am not her spokesperson. There were lots of allegations about this one has captured that, that one has captured that but surely isn’t it time we moved on? We need to move on. What has happened has happened. It is water under the bridge. Let us move on.”

On the re-engagement with the international community by the President Mnangagwa-led administration, Mr Kasukuwere said it was neccessary and a step in the right direction.

“It is neccessary for the country to be part of the community of nations. We have got to be in there. We got to move our nation foward. We’ve got to access lines of credit and so forth so that Zimbabwe moves on. I do not think anyone can be against the agenda that will bring about more opportunities for our people. Zimbabwe is for all Zimbabweans and in fact it is sad that we remain bogged down in conflict when what we should be doing is to say how do we move our nation foward. The people expect much more. They do not eat our fights. People want food on the table. They want jobs. People want a better health system; that is what must define Zimbabwe,” he said.

Mr Kasukuwere denied suggestions that he was coming back to topple Retired Brigadier General Ambrose Mutinhiri from the NPF leadership.

“Zanu-PF is led by Cde Mnangagwa. NPF Brigadier General Mutinhiri, MDC-T Chamisa, so which party are you asking me to be leading? I am not coming to push anybody out of any position,” he said.

When asked if he was going back into politics, he took a long sigh and responded: “It will take a lot of convincing. There is a lot that all of us can do. We all can’t be in one field. It appears the only industry working is politics but we must move beyond politics. Get to talk about business. Do you know the President of Switzerland? (Nobody knows him because they are into business). We need to get to a stage where whoever is the President is not the issue.

What is an issue is the health of the nation and the state of the economy. We need to make sure that the future of our people is looked after. The people of Zimbabwe are yearning to have a decent living standard…if we all work towards that objective this country will enjoy.”

On investors scrambling to Zimbabwe enticed by the policies of the new administration, Mr Kasukuwere said he was happy about it.

“I am a Zimbabwean. Whatever is good for the people of Zimbabwe and in terms of our economy is what we must embrace and move our country foward. It is good to be back home.”

Mr Kasukuwere was briefly questioned by the police soon after landing at the RGM International Airport before he was released.