News / National
War vets to stage anti-Kaukonde protest
25 Oct 2014 at 01:39hrs | Views
War veterans in Marondera have reportedly applied for police clearance to hold anti Ray Kaukonde protests, the state media reported.
Zanu-PF Mashonaland East provincial chairperson, Kaukonde, has been accused of protecting white commercial farmers and also fanning factionalism in the province and
According to 'The Herald', the protest had initially been pencilled for Friday, but was deferred to allow the war veterans to notify the police in terms of the Public Order and Security Act.
The war veterans had not received a response from the police by the close of business on Friday.
War veterans district secretary for finance Patrick Makombe said in an interview that the intended demonstration was against Kaukonde and his ally, Marondera East legislator and provincial secretary for security Jeremiah Chiwetu.
He said the demonstration was in support of First Lady Grace Mugabe, who denounced factionalism in the party and condemned the culprits, singling out Kaukonde as the main funder of a faction in the party.
"We are inviting all war veterans and all other people who share the same views with us," he said. "We are saying no to factionalism and as war veterans we want to uphold the objective of the liberation struggle.
"We are going to march to the party's provincial offices to register our displeasure at what the provincial chairman and those behind him are doing."
Makombe said they met as an executive and it was time decisive action was taken against factionalism in fulfilment of what was envisaged by Mugabe.
He said they would march through the town of Marondera from the war veterans' offices up to the party's provincial offices where they would "reclaim" the party.
Kaukonde was not picking up his phone yesterday, but Chiwetu dismissed the allegations.
"These are disgruntled people we defeated during primary elections last year," he said. "Makombe was one of those that contested in primary elections and since I defeated him, he has not forgiven me."
According to a list of grievances prepared by the former freedom fighters, they accused Kaukonde of being the "father of factionalism" in Mashonaland East province.
"Ray Kaukonde is the defender of the remaining white commercial farmers in Marondera district," the war veterans said.
"We have the highest number of whites in the province nationally.
"Ray Kaukonde and Chiwetu organised youths to disturb Dr Grace Mugabe's rally at Rudhaka."
The demonstration by the war veterans comes in the wake of heavy criticism by the First Lady of Kaukonde, whom she said was fanning factionalism.
The First Lady was speaking during her "Meet the People" rally at Rudhaka, where she warned Kaukonde to desist from his crooked ways.
Mugabe repeated the allegations against Kaukonde on Thursday at her Mazowe Children's Home when she met war veterans.
She accused Kaukonde of being an agent of Vice President Joice Mujuru, whom she accused of being behind factionalism, corruption and subversion.
Zanu-PF Mashonaland East provincial chairperson, Kaukonde, has been accused of protecting white commercial farmers and also fanning factionalism in the province and
According to 'The Herald', the protest had initially been pencilled for Friday, but was deferred to allow the war veterans to notify the police in terms of the Public Order and Security Act.
The war veterans had not received a response from the police by the close of business on Friday.
War veterans district secretary for finance Patrick Makombe said in an interview that the intended demonstration was against Kaukonde and his ally, Marondera East legislator and provincial secretary for security Jeremiah Chiwetu.
He said the demonstration was in support of First Lady Grace Mugabe, who denounced factionalism in the party and condemned the culprits, singling out Kaukonde as the main funder of a faction in the party.
"We are inviting all war veterans and all other people who share the same views with us," he said. "We are saying no to factionalism and as war veterans we want to uphold the objective of the liberation struggle.
"We are going to march to the party's provincial offices to register our displeasure at what the provincial chairman and those behind him are doing."
Makombe said they met as an executive and it was time decisive action was taken against factionalism in fulfilment of what was envisaged by Mugabe.
He said they would march through the town of Marondera from the war veterans' offices up to the party's provincial offices where they would "reclaim" the party.
"These are disgruntled people we defeated during primary elections last year," he said. "Makombe was one of those that contested in primary elections and since I defeated him, he has not forgiven me."
According to a list of grievances prepared by the former freedom fighters, they accused Kaukonde of being the "father of factionalism" in Mashonaland East province.
"Ray Kaukonde is the defender of the remaining white commercial farmers in Marondera district," the war veterans said.
"We have the highest number of whites in the province nationally.
"Ray Kaukonde and Chiwetu organised youths to disturb Dr Grace Mugabe's rally at Rudhaka."
The demonstration by the war veterans comes in the wake of heavy criticism by the First Lady of Kaukonde, whom she said was fanning factionalism.
The First Lady was speaking during her "Meet the People" rally at Rudhaka, where she warned Kaukonde to desist from his crooked ways.
Mugabe repeated the allegations against Kaukonde on Thursday at her Mazowe Children's Home when she met war veterans.
She accused Kaukonde of being an agent of Vice President Joice Mujuru, whom she accused of being behind factionalism, corruption and subversion.
Source - Herald
