News / National
Mphoko blasts rogue war vets
25 Jul 2016 at 07:01hrs | Views
VICE President Phelekezela Mphoko has described war veterans who released a communique castigating President Mugabe as rebels who do not understand the role of ex-combatants.
Last week, some war veterans held a meeting in Harare and attacked President Mugabe, saying he must resign and threatened not to campaign for him in the 2018 presidential polls.
The country's security agencies are now conducting investigations to determine the source of the document.
"President Mugabe has many positions, which include being the President of the country and the party as well as the Commander-in-Chief of all military establishments. The military establishments include the para military establishments.
"When people start talking against their Commander-in-Chief it means that they're now rebels. If that communique was written by the war veterans it's either they don't know their role as war veterans or they're being used by other people," said VP Mphoko soon after handing over 2, 700 day old chicks to residents of Nkulumane in Bulawayo yesterday.
George Mlala, a member of the war veterans' council of elders, said ex-combatants from Bulawayo had distanced themselves from the communique.
He said President Mugabe was elected by the people of Zimbabwe.
"We don't subscribe to that as war veterans. War veterans have no mandate to talk against the President because he was not elected by war veterans but by the people of Zimbabwe.
"What has been said in that communique is out of context and not supported by war veterans. If there are any war veterans who don't want President Mugabe to be their patron anymore, they should say it out at congress not through a communique," said Mlala.
He said those who are against President Mugabe are against the people of Zimbabwe and the entire Zanu-PF party.
"War veterans are like stakeholders of the party. It's the principal of the party who gives instructions not the stakeholders. Stakeholders can give suggestions here and there but not tell the principal what to do.
"If someone says they don't support President Mugabe, it means that they don't support the people of Zimbabwe because it's the people who elected him into power and the entire Zanu-PF membership," said Mlala.
Meanwhile, VP Mphoko said the programme to donate chicks would cover all the country's 10 provinces.
The VP has so far donated 20,700 chicks.
"We're moving to area three next week. From there we will donate to residents in area two and area one before we go to Mashonaland Central where we will give the people there about 10,000 chicks. We will donate the chicks to every province. This is a programme that is meant to empower the people and reduce poverty. No payment is required from them," said VP Mphoko.
He told beneficiaries to give him reports on their projects so that he knows how they are performing.
Last week, some war veterans held a meeting in Harare and attacked President Mugabe, saying he must resign and threatened not to campaign for him in the 2018 presidential polls.
The country's security agencies are now conducting investigations to determine the source of the document.
"President Mugabe has many positions, which include being the President of the country and the party as well as the Commander-in-Chief of all military establishments. The military establishments include the para military establishments.
"When people start talking against their Commander-in-Chief it means that they're now rebels. If that communique was written by the war veterans it's either they don't know their role as war veterans or they're being used by other people," said VP Mphoko soon after handing over 2, 700 day old chicks to residents of Nkulumane in Bulawayo yesterday.
George Mlala, a member of the war veterans' council of elders, said ex-combatants from Bulawayo had distanced themselves from the communique.
He said President Mugabe was elected by the people of Zimbabwe.
"We don't subscribe to that as war veterans. War veterans have no mandate to talk against the President because he was not elected by war veterans but by the people of Zimbabwe.
"What has been said in that communique is out of context and not supported by war veterans. If there are any war veterans who don't want President Mugabe to be their patron anymore, they should say it out at congress not through a communique," said Mlala.
He said those who are against President Mugabe are against the people of Zimbabwe and the entire Zanu-PF party.
"War veterans are like stakeholders of the party. It's the principal of the party who gives instructions not the stakeholders. Stakeholders can give suggestions here and there but not tell the principal what to do.
"If someone says they don't support President Mugabe, it means that they don't support the people of Zimbabwe because it's the people who elected him into power and the entire Zanu-PF membership," said Mlala.
Meanwhile, VP Mphoko said the programme to donate chicks would cover all the country's 10 provinces.
The VP has so far donated 20,700 chicks.
"We're moving to area three next week. From there we will donate to residents in area two and area one before we go to Mashonaland Central where we will give the people there about 10,000 chicks. We will donate the chicks to every province. This is a programme that is meant to empower the people and reduce poverty. No payment is required from them," said VP Mphoko.
He told beneficiaries to give him reports on their projects so that he knows how they are performing.
Source - chronicle
