'I was used as scapegoat,' says Mugabe's ally

THE Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association Bulawayo chapter yesterday held its inter-district meeting without any incident, a week after the meeting was cancelled over unclear circumstances.

Christopher Mustvangwa, the association's national chairperson, attended the meeting together with other national executive members who included his deputy, Headman Moyo, secretary-general Victor Matemadanda, Robert Ncube (treasurer) and provincial leaders from other provinces.

Matemadanda urged war veterans to guard against people who were trying to destabilise the association.

He said unity was key to the development of the country and the association before urging fellow war vetarans to rally behind Mutsvangwa. He also took time to mock George Mlala who is alleged to be leading a splinter group in the Bulawayo Province.

"Some are saying take away Mutsvangwa so that we can give you money. Take your money and we will keep our Mutsvangwa because we are not as stupid as they assume or think we are. Let us take away the mindset of people who want to use us for their own benefit. Here in Bulawayo you have an old man who doesn't want to marry. He is still single and this man is a specialist in lying, very old and not consistent. Perhaps it's because he doesn't have kids because speaking from my experience, when I say something my children often ask me the meaning of what I was saying. I am talking about that old man whose legs are both left footed. Is there a woman among you who can take care of this old man?" he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Matematanda who is also the Zanu-PF Central Committee member added that the ruling party risks facing an uphill task in the forthcoming 2018 elections if it continues to pass votes of no confidence on its members.

"There are dull people who just pass votes of no confidence. People who joined the party in 2005 are leading the call to fire people in the party and this is seen in Mashonaland West where they want to fire Chanetsa. This is the time to save the party. There are people who want to frustrate you so that you can run away and they can then do whatever they want."

Mashonaland West war vets provincial chairperson Colenius Muhoni said war veterans in his province will always support Mutsvangwa. He disputed the claim that war veterans in his province suspended their national chairperson.

Mutsvangwa who is also Minister for the War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees thanked his national executive for being with him when people were calling for his expulsion. He revealed that his executive together with the security sector worked hard defending him when the he was under attack.

"We have Bulawayo Province showing people that the torch of the revolution shines forever. When I was being harassed, our fellow members united with other people in the uniformed forces whom you know and are your children so we have our own friends from the other side. They are ours, we fought with them and they are with you in this battle. So feel confident that the army, police and the security establishment is with us on this issue," he said.

Mashonaland West province recently recommended Mutsvangwa's censure following his utterances in the private media that were deemed as an insult to the First Family and undermining the authority of the President.

"My attack was clearly directed to the President not me, the party and our security establishment. I was just being used as a scapegoat. This is the reason why you heard the Minister of information (Dr Christopher Mushohwe) saying leave the security sector alone, he was sent by the President to say so."