News / Regional
Disgruntled war vets should SHUT UP
13 May 2016 at 08:42hrs | Views
WAR veterans are in full support of the One Million Man March being organised to show solidarity with President Robert Mugabe by Zanu-PF's Youth League, and those who are against the solidarity campaign should shut up, a senior official said yesterday. George Mlala, a member of the war veterans' Council of Elders, encouraged youths to attend the march.
His sentiments come after Douglas Mahiya, the spokesperson of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, was quoted in the private media saying the march was meaningless, ill-timed and would not improve the lives of the general public.
Mlala slammed Mahiya, saying he was not speaking for all war veterans. "The march is not a new thing. We've done it before as war veterans. As for Mahiya, he is not qualified to talk on behalf of the war veterans. He's not our spokesperson. He's not part of the war veterans' leadership. He wasn't there when we elected the national executive in Masvingo," said Mlala.
He said the solidarity march scheduled for May 25 should be attended by every youth who have benefitted under President Mugabe leadership.
Mlala said the march should not be used for cheap politicking by attention seekers who want to advance their factional politics.
"We will support the march because it's not based on factional politics. This is not about individuals but the President. Mahiya is not representing us. It's a march organised to pay tribute to the President who has led the country peacefully for the last 36 years. The President has led peacefully despite economic challenges faced by the country brought by imposed sanctions," said Mlala.
His sentiments come after Douglas Mahiya, the spokesperson of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, was quoted in the private media saying the march was meaningless, ill-timed and would not improve the lives of the general public.
Mlala slammed Mahiya, saying he was not speaking for all war veterans. "The march is not a new thing. We've done it before as war veterans. As for Mahiya, he is not qualified to talk on behalf of the war veterans. He's not our spokesperson. He's not part of the war veterans' leadership. He wasn't there when we elected the national executive in Masvingo," said Mlala.
Mlala said the march should not be used for cheap politicking by attention seekers who want to advance their factional politics.
"We will support the march because it's not based on factional politics. This is not about individuals but the President. Mahiya is not representing us. It's a march organised to pay tribute to the President who has led the country peacefully for the last 36 years. The President has led peacefully despite economic challenges faced by the country brought by imposed sanctions," said Mlala.
Source - chronicle
