Kasukuwere slams war vet 'drunkards'

Zanu-PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere yesterday described the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association (ZNLWVA) leaders as "drunkards" after the former fighters launched a scathing attack on his leadership.

The fall-out was precipitated by Kasukuwere's alleged imposition of Terrence Mukupe as the Zanu-PF candidate in the Harare East constituency for the June 10 by-election.  

As tempers flared, the former fighters issued a statement on Tuesday attacking Kasukuwere and a group of "Young Turks" known as "Generation 40" in the ruling party.

ZNLWVA secretary-general Victor Matemadanda alleged there was a renewed plot by the group of young leaders in the ruling party to remove President Robert Mugabe by force with backing from Western powers.

But Kasukuwere told thousands of people at a campaign rally at Mukondwa Primary School in Hwedza North constituency that those pointing fingers at him never fought in the country's war of liberation.

These, who are here, are real war veterans, not those war veterans (that were) on television last night (Tuesday) who don't know what they are saying, Kasukuwere said.