Mugabe cracks whip on war vets

President Robert Mugabe has cracked the whip and ordered war veterans to take part in the planned solidarity march organized for him by the Zanu-PF youth league despite their earlier threats to boycott the event.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association spokesperson, Douglas Mahiya confirmed the development yesterday.

The Zanu-PF youth league has been struggling to co-ordinate the march and in a last ditch attempt last week ordered provincial structures to marshal funds enough to transport 100 000 people each to the capital for the procession tentatively set for May 25.

Early this week, war veterans dismissed the planned march as a waste of resources at a time the majority of ordinary Zimbabweans were facing grinding poverty, but Mugabe flexed his muscle and reined them in.