Mujuru 'allowed' women to be abused during war - Mutswangwa

Outspoken Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa is back in the spotlight claiming that Joice Mujuru failed to protect female combatants abused by senior male officers during the war.

Mutsvangwa said "Those of us who had come from the university, we ended up in jail - myself, Zororo Duri (now late), John Mayowe (late) and Sobusa Gula-Ndebele - for resisting abuses on young girls.

"She (Mujuru) could have done more as a commander and I hold that against her,".

"She could have done more to stop the abuse of girls at Nyadzonia, but she did not."

"When women today say they are free, it is not a gift or charity from Zanu PF. They showed their valour, they earned it. I feel proud that someone who was in the field, like Vivian Mwashita, was declared a national hero. It will help change the narrative because some think women went to war as concubines. It's nonsense," Mutsvangwa said.

"Oppah Muchinguri (Environment minister) was beaten every day at parade. We did not understand then as she was accused of being a spy, only to find out she was refusing abuses by senior commanders and we challenged that."

ZimPF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said it was a personal matter.

"As a party, we do not want to be dragged into a personal fight between Mujuru and Mutsvangwa, so we will not comment," he said.