THE Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association
(ZNLWVA) chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa yesterday staged a come-back, days
after he was accused of divisiveness and selfishness, with some provincial
executives pushing for his recall.
Mutsvangwa’s key national executives have hit back,
accusing his detractors of trying to destabilise the ex-liberation fighters.
Only Mashonaland East and West have backed the move to
recall Mutsvangwa, but the majority of the ZNLWVA national leadership has vowed
to block his ouster, describing the attempts as a calculated move to
destabilise both Zanu PF and the association.
The association’s leadership accused ZNLWVA
secretary-general Victor Matemadanda of plotting to usurp the leadership from
Mutsvangwa. But Matemadanda last night dismissed allegations.
“In any case, we are going for elections next year and I
don’t intend to stand as chairman. I am content with being a secretary-general.
In fact, being a secretary-general is more powerful than being a chairman.
These allegations are madness,” he said.
The most senior war veteran in Mashonaland West province,
Runesu Geza, popularly known as “Bombshell”, warned former freedom fighters
against being used to remove Mutsvangwa.
“Mutsvangwa fought against former President Robert Mugabe,
now he is gone, they are fighting him (Mutsvangwa). Mutsvangwa stands for the
interests of war veterans and is not corrupt. He is not going anywhere. We want
to see who is influencing these war vets to work against the chairman.”
“In Mashonaland Central, there was a meeting yesterday
(Thursday) and the comrades were very bitter that at a time when our chairman
is bed-ridden, people are taking the opportunity to lambast him, instead of
consoling him and wishing him a speedy recovery,” a provincial executive member
who requested anonymity said.
“There is a story behind that and people might have taken
this as a fissure within the association but it is a serious fight between
these two.”
ZNLWVA national commissar Francis Nhando was of the view
that Mutsvangwa was being fought for trying to improve the welfare of former
freedom fighters.
“On the economic front, we have Mutsvangwa fighting right
now against a budget that has nothing for war vets. What is lacking in this
country’s economic life is what I have always referred as patriotic capital,”
Nhando said.
“As long as we have no capital in the hands of nationals,
we have no way we can attract capital with national interests from anywhere in
the world. That fight put him on the collision path against such elements in
the past regime when he tried to establish that capital as minister. Today, his
close relationship with Finance minister Mthuli Ncube in trying to play his
role against elements of the sort could be attracting his troubles. War vets
have no business fighting Mutsvangwa, who together with everyone, fought for
the freedom of expression.”
Manicaland provincial leader Gift Kagweda said they were
fully behind Mutsvangwa.
“Who is saying Mutsvangwa must go? That resolution from
Mashonaland West does not affect us. We are a province on our own and we
constitute the national leadership,” Kagweda said.
“As Manicaland, we are still waiting to be co-ordinated and
then deliberate on that. What I want you to be very clear with is that we
respect the national leadership which respects our President Emmerson
Mnangagwa. If there are people who don’t respect him, then we are not part and
parcel of them.
Our chairman is Mutsvangwa until we sit and resolve the
matter at the national level.”
Other provinces said the matter did not arise in the first
place and they would not be swayed to go against Mutsvangwa.
They said there was a calculated move to create fissures
within the association.
Bulawayo war veterans chairperson Cephas Ncube said the
province had nothing to do with the anti-Mutsvangwa plot.
“Those who are saying that, where are they getting that
instruction? As Bulawayo, we haven’t deliberated on that,” Ncube said.
“In my province, we haven’t talked about this. On
Wednesday, we had a meeting with the business community and not the issues you
are talking about. I don’t think I can call an emergency meeting regarding the
issues you are referring to. Above that, Mutsvangwa is the national chairman
and as a provincial chairman, I don’t have any power to talk about that.”
He referred further questions to the association’s national
deputy chair Headmen Moyo, who, however, said he was not able to respond as he
was driving. Newsday
0 comments:
Post a Comment