Zipra veterans throw weight behind Mnangagwa

THE Zipra War Veterans Trust which all along has been opposed to the ruling Zanu-PF yesterday threw its weight behind the country's new President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, saying they were impressed with his open door policy.

The Zipra War Veterans Trust is a breakaway welfare association from the country's main war veterans body, the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association (ZNLWVA).

Speaking at a Zipra War Veterans Trust meeting at Castle Arms Hotel in Bulawayo, the national chairman of the association, Ben Ncube, urged his membership to stop functioning independently.

Ncube also urged his members to start being actively involved in the political affairs of the country.

"We are calling on all Zipra cadres regardless of tribe or political affiliation to work towards setting ourselves up politically in order to ensure we safeguard what we fought for. The main agenda today was to talk about our political position. We need to participate in the new political dispensation to ensure that what we fought is safe guarded," said Ncube.

Ncube revealed that they also took an active part in bringing in the new dispensation.

"We have a chance in redeeming the country and also having matters concerning our welfare addressed seeing that our new President, Mnangagwa has an open door policy," said Ncube.

Speaking at the same meeting Zipra War Veterans Trust committee member Retired Colonel Buster Magwizi said it was not a secret that they were also actively involved in the fight against reactionary elements that had surrounded former President, Robert Mugabe.

"We started engaging seriously with the national chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWA) Christopher Mutsvangwa and agreed that we will work together towards a new political dispensation. We generally spoke about unity of purpose and working together as yesterday's Zipra and Zanla in solving the political crisis in our beloved country," said Rtd Col Magwizi.

He said ZNLWA vice-chairman Headman Moyo and committee member, Zenzo Ncube engaged them after meeting Zapu president Dr Dumiso Dabengwa.

Rtd Col Magwizi said later on follow-up meetings were held with Cdes Douglas Mahiya and Victor Matemadanda who had also met Dr Dabengwa. He said they held another meeting in October this year, where various issues were discussed, among them tackling the G40 cabal.

"We are looking forward to meeting President Mnangagwa to discuss many pertinent issues and we hope he will open the door for us," said Rtd Col Magwizi.