Harare — Victory for Zanu-PF in the forthcoming harmonised elections is victory for all revolutionary forces in Africa and the world, December 12 Movement secretary-general Coltrane Chimurenga has said.

In an interview yesterday, Chimurenga, currently in the country in solidarity with the ruling party in the run-up to the March 29 harmonised elections, said victory was certain for President Mugabe and Zanu-PF.

"It is certain Zanu-PF will win these elections and President Mugabe's victory will prove to the Western world, especially the US, Britain and their allies, that revolutionary forces are still strong in Africa. "President Mugabe will definitely win these elections to set Zanu-PF as an example of a strong revolutionary movement in Africa, standing for people's rights in Zimbabwe," he said. Chimurenga said Zanu-PF had successfully fought imperialist forces from the trenches during the liberation war and continued to fight the sanctions imposed on the country.

"Zimbabwe will remain a revolutionary example in Africa and President Mugabe's legacy will be witnessed by millions as a revolutionary leader still remains strong against imperialist forces.

"President Mugabe still remains an outstanding leader oozing with energy to defend revolutionary principles and will remain an example for all who stand by their beliefs," he said.

He urged Zimbabweans to vote overwhelmingly for Zanu-PF, which still believes in Africa's right to retain its sovereign and independent status. "The victory would also ensure that Zimbabwe protects the gains of its independence while retaining its heroic pan-African state," he said.

The Zimbabwean leadership, he said, is a beacon to all proud Africans on both the continent and the Diaspora. "The West would never be able to defeat Zimbabwean revolutionaries and a victory for Zanu-PF would indicate the people's expression to continue the fight for total liberation and emancipation of the people," he said.

Chimurenga dismissed the recent defections by some Politburo members from the ruling, party saying that was expected in any revolution.

"People should understand that in any revolution, there are sell-outs who hide inside movements but the goal of a revolutionary movement is to expose them.

"Revolutionaries should make it known for the people to see that these people lack legitimacy, aspirations to serve the people and want to serve their own interests," he said.

Chimurenga said it was not only enough to expose these charlatans but identify their sponsors, those whom they report to and people can see how strong the movement is against those trying to hoodwink the people.

He said Africans should be wary of the Western world's foreign policies, which are all about intervention, intimidation and destabilisation.

"They could have failed to use money in Zimbabwe through the MDC but imperialist forces will always have something up their sleeves. The creation of the MDC is nothing more than a puppet party hatched by the West to destabilise Zimbabwe," he said.

It is the nature of the beast to constantly disrupt the sovereignty and independence of African states, especially in Southern Africa," he said.

Chimurenga said people in the Diaspora should not believe the propagandist media stories that people in Zimbabwe are starving.

"Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole need to make political and economic sacrifices, and instead of relying on the West should enhance production, especially on the land.

"Shortages of certain goods could be there because of economic interference through sanctions imposed on the country but people need to produce more for their country," he said.

The United States-based December 12 Movement has been working with revolutionary movements in Africa including Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe.

The organisation has also highlighted Zimbabwean issues for those in the Diaspora and fights misinformation by the Western media.