MDC-T to reach out to Zanu-PF's war veterans

MDC-T vice-president, Nelson Chamisa, yesterday said his party was ready to reach out to war veterans and include them in the fight for democratic rule, following their recent acrimonious fallout with President Robert Mugabe.

Speaking to NewsDay following a rally in his Kuwadzana East constituency, Harare, Chamisa said he would volunteer to be in charge of the freedom fighters once the opposition party formalises the relationship.

War veterans, who until last month, were undoubtedly Zanu PF's rear guard, ditched Mugabe through their infamous July 21 communique, accusing him of dictatorship and monopolising the ruling party.

"I thanked president Morgan Tsvangirai, when he appointed me one of the vice-presidents and I said to him, let me be in charge of the war veterans, so that we give them money and restore their dignity among other things," he said.

"They fought and sacrificed all for this country's independence, but now there has been no change. The late former Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith's oppressive regime still prevails in many aspects.

"We haven't engaged them so far, but our hands are not limited. We will reach out to war veterans because they do not belong to any political party. They belong to all of us, we are ready to engage the liberators of this country, it's a necessity. They are a repository of our history and our future," he said.

Asked to comment on chances of succeeding in their quest for change of government, Chamisa said change was only possible if key electoral reforms were implemented to ensure a level playing ground during elections.

He said people should stop criticising Tsvangirai for appointing three vice-presidents, saying the strategy would work to strengthen the party.