No unit between war veterans and opposition

It is a misinterpretation of reality to say that war veterans have united with opposition political parties in fighting against President Robert Mugabe's rule. This assumption is being raised by false alarmists who want to cause alarm and despondency in the country. It is not true to say war veterans threw their weight enmass behind the ongoing mass stay-aways but some few individuals with their own agendas.

It sounds quite amazing, perplexing and alarming for the Zimbabwe Liberators Platform (ZLP) to accuse President Robert Mugabe of abusing former freedom fighters, alienating them from other citizens, abusing and dumping them to save his political interests and running down the country's economy. In fact the President has always been working and respecting the war veterans, which explains why he is their patron. On the other end, all war veterans did not back the demonstrators as is being alleged by some misguided elements and sections of the private media.

ZLP Secretary-general Wilson Nharingo recently said that President Mugabe had eroded the liberation war values and the country was virtually under siege from alleged ZANU PF forces of destruction. The war veteran leader and his clique of supporters seem to be out of touch with reality. They are few malcontents who are selfish and lack the national vision. This group should not just shout for the sake of it as we know that they are seeking relevance as they have been expelled from the mainstream war veteran association due to their megalomania.

It is now a known fact that ZLP members are a bunch of power hungry individuals who are after looting and self aggrandizement. Proper and patriotic war veterans should hail the President for sourcing funds for demobilization, Z$50 000 gratuities and the monthly pensions allowances. In addition to these, their children's fees are catered for by the government. Moreover others who were injured during the armed struggle were paid disability allowances.

Government has always applied the quota system in allocating resources, be they stands, farms, projects, mines and many others. These have been done and continue to be applied in honor of war veterans for their selflessness in liberating this country. In view of this, it would be insane to allude that President Mugabe has dumped the war veterans.

It is beyond doubt that many people in Africa, if not the world, envy the leadership qualities of His Excellency. The efforts by a few war veterans to blame the President for the country's economic ills while conveniently excusing western-imposed illegal sanctions are both importune and unfortunate, and lead us to the conclusion that this clique of ex-combatants is lightweight on issues of economic importance.

It seems that they believe that Zimbabwe's economic woes, past and current should be solely laid at the door of one man and his party. This is also the mentality of the MDC supporters who are in a desperate mode to raise their political profiles. Woe to those that behave like a brood of vipers and want to destroy totally the economy of the country.

Most regime change proponents allege that the economic problems bedeviling the country started when the war veterans were paid their gratuities. In this case it would be a fascinating paradox for the war veterans to say that President Mugabe has dumped them. In fact the opposite is true that the government is trying by all means, resources available, to improve the welfare of war veterans.

We should all rally behind the President for trying to improve the lives of the former freedom fighters for those who had brains are doing well in life. We should also take into cognizance that beyond war veterans are the masses who also need a piece of the same cake. Therefore in their demands war veterans should think of others and avoid being perceived as self-centred by considering the state of the economy. In fact the war veterans should appreciate what President Mugabe and the government have done and still continue to do for them.