ZIMBABWE National Liberation War Veterans’ Association
secretary-general Cde Victor Matemadanda says the association’s chairman, Cde
Chris Mutsvangwa, should stop dragging his name into his fights to do with the
fuel business.
Cde Matemadanda said he would not defend anyone on anything
except President Mnangagwa.
His remarks come in the wake of claims by Cde Mutsvangwa,
as quoted in some sections of the media over the weekend, that Cde Matemadanda
was gunning for Cde Mutsvangwa’s position and was sponsoring provinces to
recall him.
So far Mashonaland West and Mashonaland East have resolved
to recall Cde Mutsvangwa as chairman of the association with other provinces
saying they will meet over the matter.
In an interview yesterday, Cde Matemadanda said he was
being persecuted for refusing to comment on the position taken by Mashonaland
West and Mashonaland East.
“It’s known that for me to have problems with former
president (Mr Robert Mugabe) it was because I had taken a position defending
(Cde) Mutsvangwa,” said Cde Matemadanda.
“In our association, if a chairman comes from ZANU, it has
to follow that the next chairman be from Zapu. By virtue of having been the
most senior in terms of structure from the ZANLA side, if Mutsvangwa was
removed during the G40 era, I was going to be the next chairman, but I refused
that.
“We are scheduled for elections next year (and) if I
refused the chairmanship five years ago, it will be stupid for me to be
interested in that position six months before the elections.
“When Mashonaland West announced that they now want
Mutsvangwa to be recalled, Mutsvangwa’s wife called me at midnight saying what
is your take? I said, I spent five years fighting Mugabe and now I want to work
for my family.
“I don’t want to be dragged into issues of fuel that we are
hearing that there are certain people who want to invest in that sector. I have
nothing to do with those wars (and) I don’t want to be involved. The fact that
I refused to comment on the position taken by Mashonaland West is the reason
why they are saying it’s me who is interested in the chairmanship post.
“The stupidity of whoever is saying that is, the
constitution is very clear that if Mutsvangwa steps down today, his deputy is
the one who takes over until we elect a new chairman.”
Cde Matemadanda said he could not be bothered by Cde
Mutsvangwa saying he (Mutsvangwa) had not been attending meetings of the
national executive since mid-last year.
“We last had a meeting of the national executive chaired by
Mutsvangwa around July last year,” he said.
“After the November march going forward, we never had a
national executive meeting chaired by Cde Mutsvangwa. All meetings have been
chaired by Cde Headman Moyo and we never had any problem.
“What makes them think that I am interested in his position
is the fact that I refused to comment on the position taken by Mashonaland
West. I don’t want anyone’s approval for me to take a position of my choice.
“I have power in the association as secretary-general and I
did not get that position because of whoever is saying that. I was elected by
the people and I serve the people who elected me. As for Mutsvangwa, you know I
saved him.
“He was fired from the party and I was also subsequently
fired as a result of the position I took to support him. It’s just a big insult
to say that I now want the chairmanship post six months before the elections.
That’s stupid.
“ . . . (Acie) Lumumba said Mutsvangwa has his own people
who want to invest in the fuel industry and are fighting others who are already
in that industry. I have nothing to do with that and I am not going to involve
myself in that.
“I am a simple farmer in Gokwe. I have no investment in the
fuel industry or a relative with a service station. I don’t have an interest in
the fuel industry which they are fighting for. So, they should not drag me into
their wars.
“I don’t want to be involved and I am not going to fight
for anyone this time around. If I am to fight, it has to be for the President
because I have to defend my President, not any other person. If I am interested
in the chairmanship post, it’s me who administered the constitution of the
association, I know the procedure to follow. If I am interested, I will contest
at the right time. It’s me who calls for elections, so we don’t have problems
about holding elections and Mutsvangwa cannot be a threat to me because he has
not been attending meetings of the national executive since mid-last year. So,
what is his problem with me? I was calling him and he was not answering my
calls and I told the vice-chairman, so should I follow him to his house?”
Cde Matemadanda continued: “People who said Mutsvangwa must
go are from Mashonaland West and Mashonaland East, but he does not want to
confront them. Do I sit in the provincial meetings of those provinces? Anyone
who proposes anything against Mutsvangwa then that person belongs to Matemadanda?
“That is nonsense. When I was elected, as part of my
mandate people did not say I should go and defend an individual. If an
individual started his wars, he should finish them instead of dragging
everyone. Who doesn’t know that this whole matter has to do with the fuel
business and nothing else?”
Cde Matemadanda said he was aware that there were some
elements fighting him at the party headquarters who wanted him to be removed as
the secretary-general of the ZNLWVA.
“I was not appointed by Mutsvangwa. I was not appointed by
any national executive member. I was appointed by the President,” he said.
“I will defend the President and not Mutsvangwa. I have
nothing to do with him and we have not spoken and I have never had any problem
with him.” Herald
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