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Mutsvangwa takes over from 'Zanu-PF reject' Jabulani Sibanda

by Staff Reporter
16 Nov 2014 at 06:33hrs | Views
Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Christopher Mutsvangwa is the new Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association chairman after he was nominated unopposed in Masvingo on Saturday.

Ambassador Mutsvangwa accepted his elevation at the ZNLWVA's two-day elective congress which ends today.

He takes over from Jabulani Sibanda who did not attend the congress following his expulsion from Zanu-PF last Thursday.

Scenes of jubilation filled the venue as the new chair's supporters, led by wife Monica, mobbed him after Ministry of Defence director (War Veterans) Major-General (Retired) Richard Ruwodo announced the unanimous nomination.

Delegates went into delirium, singing liberation war songs.

Mutsvangwa will be declared duly elected war veterans' chair after elections for other posts on Sunday.

Zimbabwe Defence Forces Inspector General Major-General Engelbert Rugeje is the presiding officer.

The polls will be conducted by Zimbabwe Electoral Commission officials to ensure transparency and fairness.

Lewis Maposa and Jackson Ndlovu will contest the vice chair's post, while Retired Colonel Samuel Makureya, Tokwe and Mthombeni are all eyeing the post of secretary general.

Robert Ncube became treasurer unopposed, although his nomination was still to be confirmed by election officials who wanted to verify his exact province of origin.

Nominations for other posts progressed until late last night.

Ten posts were up for grabs: chair, vice chair, secretary general, treasurer, political commissar, secretary for security, secretary for information and publicity, secretary for legal affairs, transport and welfare, and women's affairs.

One of the ground rules at the congress was that all contested posts should be equitably distributed among the country's 10 provinces.

In his opening remarks Major General Rugeje, who spoke on behalf of Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga, said Sibanda's executive operated unconstitutionally for 11 years.

"The last congress for war veterans was held in 2003 in Mutare and I do not know exactly how many years the executive that was elected at that congress was supposed to stay in office.

"But let us say they were supposed to stay in office for a maximum of five years. This means another congress was supposed to be held in 2008 latest, but it was never held.''

Major General Rugeje said war veterans are supposed to protect the office of President Mugabe.

"As war veterans we are the bulwark that is supposed to protect the office of the President. If we fail to protect the integrity of the office of the President, that will be tantamount to treason.

"We should never again allow leaders like Sibanda to be at the helm of the war veterans' association. A war veterans' leader should be a straightforward person without a chequered history.''

Source - Sunday Mail