President Robert Mugabe could be headed for a bloody showdown with the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA), who have described the ruling party politburo decision to expel Christopher Mutsvangwa as “ill-informed”.
Following a ZNLWVA national executive meeting in Harare yesterday, spokesperson Douglas Mahiya said that the former freedom fighters had been “shocked, angered and saddened by the expulsion”.
A defiant Mutsvangwa told the media that his relationship with Zanu PF had “become burdensome”.
“To be frank, the relationship had become burdensome to me, a real albatross in these times. In a way, I am just glad that the party divested me of it. It is now up to the association and its membership. I serve at their will,” Mutsvangwa said.
And in typical style he signed off: “This is the moment of stark choices between the populace at large or serving a vapid and vacuous Zanu PF party political oligarchy that is devoid of history, morals and probity. As a war-hardened battlefield veteran, I instinctively and invariably go with the people.”
“We woke up to very sad news today and have been forced back to Jabulani Sibanda’s expulsion and the relationship our leadership had with former chairman Chenjerai Hunzvi. After introspection, we have realised that at any given time any person leading the freedom fighters has not had the best of relationships with authorities. It is disheartening and saddening. But Mutsvangwa is not going anywhere,” Mahiya declared.
He said all the association’s 10 provinces represented by their chairmen had rallied behind Mutsvangwa.
“He will continue to fight for the welfare of war veterans. We take cognisance of the fact that today, July the 7th, is exactly three months since our meeting with President (Robert) Mugabe. And now we wonder whether the demands we made have been lumped on Mutsvangwa. To us, the decision smacks of divisiveness and vindictiveness that is unnecessary,” Mahiya said.
He said by expelling Mutsvangwa, the Mugabe-chaired Zanu PF had effectively expelled the 36 000-strong former fighters.
“The only thing they can expel from the party is Mutsvangwa’s physical being, but the spirit in him remains the same as the one in all 36 000 living veterans of the liberation struggle. Our loyalty and patriotism remains unshaken. Today, the party and government continue to tell us that Zimbabwe remains under sanctions because even though the European Union has removed everyone else from their list, President Mugabe and his family remain there,” an angry Mahiya said.
He added: “It is the same as with us. The fact that they have decided to expel Mutsvangwa, our chairman, means they have effectively cut the rest of us from the party. But they should know that we did not join this party and, therefore, our membership is lifetime and cannot be revoked.”
Mahiya said the war veterans would ask for a meeting with Mugabe and the ruling party’s secretary for war veterans, Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi.
10 Replies to “Bloody Showdown, Rattled War Vets To Fight Mutsvangwa Expulsion”
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the war vets should just start by not endorsing the goblin to stand for the party in 2018 they will see the goblin shaken
P/S. Mugabe has no known friends in his youth or adulthood. His company has always been females. He only listens to females; his wife and sisters!!
P/S. Mugabe has no known friends in his youth or adulthood. His company has always been females. He only listens to females; his wife and sisters!!
As long as you continue to think Gukurahundi Mugabe is the deal in town, you are wasting your time. Mugabe is a skirt man. He grew up under a skirt and was brought up under skirts. He only listens to his wife Grace. You are failing to identify the problem and that problem is Mugabe. Stop excusing him!!
Team Lacoste you are spot on. I do not know whether Mahiya and others remember one key song of the struggle sung by both Zanla and Zipra from their bases. I still remember the words and the voices vividly even from the radios of Maputo, Dareslaam, Lusaka, Angola and Ethiopia. The song started with “Tinofa tichienda kuZimbabwe …..dzamara tiambuke munaZambezi….Chaminuka komborera varikuZimbabwe Chaminuka komborera varikumakomo…and then the key words nesimba redu ririmuvanhu nesimba redu ririmuvanhu……..”
Mose Makomuredi nhai, vanamukoma vechokwadi mose kwamuri tarisai zvirikuitika. Open your eyes mudzokere kuvanhu. As the song says that is where power is. Lookout Masuku died wanting to talk to Robert Mugabe, Jabulani Sibanda tried to talk to him to try and explain his case to no avail.. You think that he will have time for you? Good luck. But you better be realistic and just go back to the people. Leave these looters and liars who have destroyed Zimbabwe. I like Chris Mutswangwa’s words of being with the people. That is where there is power.
Team Lacoste you are spot on. I do not know whether Mahiya and others remember one key song of the struggle sung by both Zanla and Zipra from their bases. I still remember the words and the voices vividly even from the radios of Maputo, Dareslaam, Lusaka, Angola and Ethiopia. The song started with “Tinofa tichienda kuZimbabwe …..dzamara tiambuke munaZambezi….Chaminuka komborera varikuZimbabwe Chaminuka komborera varikumakomo…and then the key words nesimba redu ririmuvanhu nesimba redu ririmuvanhu……..”
Mose Makomuredi nhai, vanamukoma vechokwadi mose kwamuri tarisai zvirikuitika. Open your eyes mudzokere kuvanhu. As the song says that is where power is. Lookout Masuku died wanting to talk to Robert Mugabe, Jabulani Sibanda tried to talk to him to try and explain his case to no avail.. You think that he will have time for you? Good luck. But you better be realistic and just go back to the people. Leave these looters and liars who have destroyed Zimbabwe. I like Chris Mutswangwa’s words of being with the people. That is where there is power.
Real war veterans should be with the people and not stick to a 92 years old dictator devoid of any progressive idea. Move on and join us. Zvaakuzopera. We will respect the real veterans and we will not make them pay allegiance to our progressive forces movement, but instead they should pay allegiance to Zimbabwe. All along we have said that war veterans, the security and traditional leaders are compromised as they are supposed to be apolitical. Unfortunately ZANU PF has been using them like condoms in exchange for money. The veterans, the security and traditional leadership should not be reduced to mere prostitutes who build relationships based on money. They should reclaim their dignity and start playing their nation building role and all what they need will naturally be fulfilled.
Real war veterans should be with the people and not stick to a 92 years old dictator devoid of any progressive idea. Move on and join us. Zvaakuzopera. We will respect the real veterans and we will not make them pay allegiance to our progressive forces movement, but instead they should pay allegiance to Zimbabwe. All along we have said that war veterans, the security and traditional leaders are compromised as they are supposed to be apolitical. Unfortunately ZANU PF has been using them like condoms in exchange for money. The veterans, the security and traditional leadership should not be reduced to mere prostitutes who build relationships based on money. They should reclaim their dignity and start playing their nation building role and all what they need will naturally be fulfilled.
Mahiya you need to wake up! Your greatest enemy is yourselves war vets. You so religiously believe President Mugabe is a saint. Why do you believe that he had no independent stake in this decision? Your comments expose you because it becomes clear that you fear Mugabe hence the effort to exonerate him all the time. He chaired the meeting that resolved this and he is part and parcel of the decision, full-stop! You are now talking of JB! My foot! When it happened you partook! Now that the bad precedent you set is haunting you you cry foul. Don’t be this naive, take the bull by its horns because any other attempts to rein it will leave you all scared.
Mahiya you need to wake up! Your greatest enemy is yourselves war vets. You so religiously believe President Mugabe is a saint. Why do you believe that he had no independent stake in this decision? Your comments expose you because it becomes clear that you fear Mugabe hence the effort to exonerate him all the time. He chaired the meeting that resolved this and he is part and parcel of the decision, full-stop! You are now talking of JB! My foot! When it happened you partook! Now that the bad precedent you set is haunting you you cry foul. Don’t be this naive, take the bull by its horns because any other attempts to rein it will leave you all scared.