War vets should be guided by Zanu-PF ideology'

THE Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association is not a political party, but is there to cater for the welfare of all ex-combatants of the liberation struggle, a senior war veteran has said.

In an interview after being elected as the interim chairman of war veterans' Manicaland chapter, Robert ‘Kwelekwele' Gumbo, said all liberation war fighters should be guided by the Zanu-PF ideology of unity.

 Gumbo who together with the late national hero, Moven Mahachi escorted President Mugabe and the late national hero Edgar Tekere from Harare to Tangwena area of Nyanga enroute to Mozambique in 1975, said all war veterans were equal regardless of their status.

"Our duty as war veterans is to unite Zimbabweans. Our association is not a political party, but it is like any NGO which is apolitical. We are there to cater for the welfare of our members. We don't belong to individuals like what some of our cadres are saying.  Mandi Chimene or Chris Mutsvangwa does not own us as war veterans. We have so many war veterans in the security sectors, Government and some are Cabinet ministers, but they are all disciplined and know the mandate of the association.

"We should all work for Zanu-PF and not factions. We should be more united and focus on turning around the country's economic fortunes. Let us not mix the association's mandate and politics. The moment you mix up these things, you will be creating problems for the association. If there issues, we should sit down and iron them out than washing our dirty linen in public. If there are disgruntlements, we should sit down and come up with answers," said  Gumbo.

War veterans in Manicaland were under the interim leadership of  Gift Kagweda until last Friday's election of another interim executive at Mutare Hall.

The provincial war veterans' offices in Mutare were recently locked up as two distinct factions emerged in the association.

The elected Manicaland interim leadership include  Gumbo (chairman), Christopher Mukombe (vice-chairman), Amon Mahembe (secretary-general), Teddy Chitsumba (secretary for finance), Regina Barara (secretary for security) and Gladys Kadungure (political commissar).

Meanwhile, war veterans were urged to be vigilant as there are moves to overthrow Zanu-PF from power as what happened in South Africa where the Democratic Alliance won some municipality seats ahead of the ruling African National Congress.

Speaking in Mutare last Friday, acting vice-chairman,  George Mlala, said the country's detractors had moved a gear up in their quest to dislodge Zanu-PF from power.

"What happened in South Africa is an eye-opener to everyone here in Zimbabwe.

"The whites have upped their game in trying to dislodge liberation movements from power. Their next target is Zimbabwe, a reason why there are these demonstrations.

"As war veterans, we need to be united and be vigilant because we are the military wing of Zanu-PF. One did not start as a war veteran. It is the party, Zanu-PF that made you a war veteran because you either came from Zanla or Zipra, which were military wings of Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu. It is disheartening to note that there are some people who are now claiming to be super war veterans than others and attacking the party's leadership. As war veterans, we rally behind President Mugabe's leadership," he said.

Mlala likened the overthrowing of Zanu-PF to a derailment and said: "The fall of Zanu-PF is like a derailment which kills people in the train. Do not think if Zanu-PF is gone, this association (war veterans) will remain in place.

"The opposition will never recognise us, so we will all go with the fall of Zanu-PF."