WAR veterans have threatened to join hands with opposition
parties in a fresh onslaught aimed at pushing out “captured” President Robert
Mugabe from power in next year’s general elections.
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association
(ZNLWVA) secretary-general, Victor Matemadanda, who is considered one of
Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s closest allies, yesterday tore into First
Lady Grace Mugabe (pictured), accusing her of “capturing” Mugabe due to his
advanced age.
“Practically, she is a self-proclaimed executive
Vice-President, because she delivered a verdict on (Zanu PF political
commissar, Saviour) Kasukuwere at a rally and cleared (Higher Education
minister) Jonathan Moyo of Zimdef (Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund) fraud,”
he said.
“These are issues that were referred to the presidium. She is the one now disciplining civil servants. She is the
one now educating government officials about their positions in relation to
ministers. She is doing virtually everything.
“If she is not part of the presidium, then that is what you
can call State capture.”
Some Zanu PF provinces accused Kasukuwere of plotting to
unseat Mugabe and the matter was referred to the Zanu PF presidium, which is
yet to make a decision, although both Grace and the President appeared to
absolve him of any wrongdoing.
On the other hand, Moyo has a pending legal matter, where
he is accused of defrauding Zimdef.
Matemadanda was speaking after Mugabe’s rally in Chinhoyi
on Saturday, where Grace upbraided Information ministry secretary, George
Charamba for overstepping his mandate.
He said the time has come for former fighters, long
perceived as Mugabe’s foot soldiers, to build bridges with opposition parties
and push out the Zanu PF regime.
“Zanu PF has been so patronised to the extent that people
cannot look for solutions from the party,” Matemadanda said.
“We have to make sure that he is out of power in 2018 as a
collective. Unfortunately, we have been too polarised to the point
that we are forgetting that (MDC-T president, Morgan) Tsvangirai, Joice Mujuru
(National People’s Party) or Welshman Ncube (MDC) are not the enemies.
“The enemy is poverty, unemployment and Mugabe, who wants
to die with Zimbabwe.”
The war veterans’ call for a combined onslaught on Mugabe
come as there is a perceived renewed attack on Mnangagwa, who is their favoured
candidate to replace the President.
This comes as opposition parties are on the verge of inking
a pact to sponsor a single candidate to challenge Mugabe in next year’s
presidential race.
MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu yesterday embraced
Matemadanda’s call and urged Zimbabweans to set aside their political
differences and vote out Zanu PF.
“Mugabe has totally and completely lost touch and
relevance. It’s now a Grace show. What a tragedy?” he said.
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