Cecil John Rhodes remains haunt Zanu-PF

THREATS by Zanla war veterasns to exhume remains of Cecil John Rhodes at Matopo Hills has caused panic within Zanu-PF ranks resulting in a probe team being set up.

Zanu-PF is worried that its rival MDC-T would capitalize on the unpopular move to campaigning on it further weakening it in the region.

Zanu-PF has since 2000 struggled to gain many seats in the region.

On Sunday, Zanu-PF leaders in the region tasked Matabeleland South Governor Angelina Masuku, deputy Senate president Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu and Khotsho Dube to investigate the 50 war veterans who threatened to exhume Rhodes remains.

"Leaders felt that MDC-T could grab this opportunity to uses it as campaign tool and this is deadly. Also we fear that the chiefs from the region could tell President Mugabe when he comes to Bulawayo for a chiefs meeting.

"So we want to have answers when Mugabe's asks as on this," said a source.

The war veterans expressed their anger that the body is being allowed to remain in the country.

Rhodes' grave consists of a granite tomb and simple brass plaque and resides in the Matopos National Park, a state-owned reserve south-east of Bulawayo.

The area is popular with tourists, who generally like to visit the gravesite of the famous man. Rhodes was buried there in 1902 after dying of heart failure.

Buster Magwizi who is the chairman of an organization for veterans who fought for Zimbabwe's second liberation party, Zapu, called for the arrest of Zanla war veterans.