‘Black Jesus’ booted out of war vets association

 A faction of the Zimbabwe War Veterans Association that is aligned to Mandi Chimene has booted out Francis Zimuto who calls himself 'Black Jesus' from the association's national executive.

Masvingo Mirror reported that Zimuto who is the secretary for environment and tourism was booted out during a meeting held at the Gutu- Masvingo turnoff (Roy) on Saturday.

The war veterans who numbered more than 300 accused Zimuto of insulting the first family by attacking the First Lady Grace Mugabe whom he described as a stepmother because she was a second wife to President Robert Mugabe.

They also accused Zimuto and the other fired war veterans of attending a meeting of war veterans in Chiredzi two weeks ago that endorsed embattled war veterans chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa who was fired two weeks ago by President Mugabe as the Minister of War Veterans.
Booted out alongside Zimuto is Francis Nhando, who is the National Political Commissar. The dismissals were announced by the national secretary for lands in the association, Gorge Matenda.

"One of the major reasons for the expulsion is a meeting held last week where they criticised the appointments done by the President, and the fact that Zimuto openly criticised the First Lady," Matenda said.

Matenda  said the axe was going to descend on other members for the commission of the same offences.

"We are going to look at other members of the provincial and national executive and decide what we are going to do with them," Matenda said.
The new interim vice chairperson of the war veterans association Gorge Mlala also confirmed the expulsions and encouraged the war veterans to get ready for provincial elections to select a new executive.

"There are those who think they can challenge the President and the first family and we told them to leave, Masvingo should now gear up for provincial elections to select a new executive," said Mlala.