By Blessing Chapwati

Bindura(ZimEye)-The total number of stolen beasts at the ZANU PF, Bindura conference has now reached 9.

Daring ZANU PF cadres turned thieves on Thursday and stole a total nine beasts meant to be slaughtered at the party’s annual conference currently underway in Bindura, president Robert Mugabe revealed Friday.

Mugabe said that party supporters camped at the conference venue, Bindura University slept on empty stomachs because the cows which later turned out to be a total of nine in number, as well as some other foodstuffs had gone missing.

“We heard that people slept on empty stomachs because eight beasts which were supposed to be slaughtered were stolen by some carders here at the conference,” said Mugabe.

He castigated corrupt leaders in the party some of whom convert maize meant for the public to personal use.

“We hear that some leaders take maize meant for people and sell. What kind of leadership is that?, said Mugabe.

ZANU PF has in recent past been rocked by infighting and divisions where on Sunday there were clashes at the party’s headquarters.

Two factions one led by Amos Midzi and Harare South Member of Parliament Hubert Nyanhongo fought over the chairmanship of Harare province.

Mugabe said: “In a contest you must concede defeat and support the winning candidate.”

He claimed that Zimbabwe hospitals were fully operational with substantial levels of drugs.

Mugabe’s claims are in contrast with the situation on the ground. The country’s largest referral hospital Parirenyatwa and provincial hospitals closed shop more than a month ago because of lack of medical supplies and human resources..

“Our hospitals are still up and at the moment most of them have quite substantial levels of drugs but not enough,” said Mugabe.

Mugabe scoffed at claims that he must be held responsible for the death of people from the cholera outbreak.

“Once there has been a cholera epidemic but there has been outbreaks everywhere therefore you cannot say the cholera outbreak was caused by the government. You can therefore not accuse us of genocide because of these deaths. The Europeans and the Americans say that we are guilty of genocide because of the deaths from cholera,” said Mugabe.

He said that he would remain president until the people removed him from power.

Robert Mugabe is here until when the people decide to remove him,” said Mugabe.

Mugabe admitted that the economic crisis had deepened and had caused social difficulties.

“Yes we have had economic difficulties that have created certain social difficulties,” he said.

On the global political agreement between the country’s major political parties, Mugabe said they had not come to a stage where the inclusive government could e established.

He said the British were not supportive of an inclusive government where Mugabe remained as head of government.

“They have been dissuading Tsvangirai that’s why you see him globetrotting from Germany to France. We have to pity him; he is no longer in control of himself. This comes when one is a puppet of someone. We all know what happens in the world of puppetry,” said Mugabe.

At time of going to press, it was still not yet clear if any arrests by Police had been made in conjuction with the stolen beasts. [ZimEye, Zimbabwe]