Chief Ndiweni a ‘national security threat', says Matemadanda

The secretary general of the war veterans' association on Monday labelled Chief Nhlanhla Ndiweni a "security threat" after the outspoken traditional chief claimed President Emmerson Mnangagwa would not finish his five-year term.

Chief Ndiweni, of Ntabazinduna, told reporters at the Media Centre in Bulawayo last Friday that the mounting economic and political crises would collapse Mnangagwa's government, which he described as "temporary".

Victor Matemadanda, the secretary general of the Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association, called for the chief's arrest in an interview with the ZBC.

"That's a security threat [the chief's comments]. Why does he have to say the president's term of office will end soon, does he have soldiers or is he training an army? He must leave President Mnangagwa alone and stop such attention seeking behaviour," Matemadanda said.

Matemadanda, who is also the deputy defence minister, wondered if Chief Ndiweni was "starting a fire that he is not going to be able to quench."

"He's playing to the gallery, he wants people to react. He knows that there is nothing that he's going to do to stop ED's leadership, but he's just trying to make news so that people respond to him and he's in the limelight," the war vets boss said.

"It's unfortunate that in a country, you've such caliber of people as chiefs, and you even wonder what happens to the tribe that is supposed to be taking the chieftainship. Do they not have a better person to take the chieftainship?

"It's not wise for the chief to be involved in politics. If he wants to be involved in politics, let him come, form or join a political party then we meet in the ballot box rather than try and cause security threats and problems. We'll not allow and accept that to happen."

The British-raised and educated traditional leader, following in the footsteps of his father, Chief Khayisa Ndiweni who died in 2010, has distinguished himself from Zimbabwe's politically pliant traditional leaders, using his financial independence to speak about critical issues affecting his community, including the deepening economic crisis.

His outspoken criticism has angered Mnangagwa's government, which has responded with state media attacks on the chief.

"Do you notice that I call it an administration? According to me, this country does not have a government. The proper government to run this country is yet to come," Ndiweni told journalists last Friday.

"A government that will make people's lives normal, a government that will put an end to fuel queues, a government that will see parents being able to pay school fees for their children. We have a temporary administration."