News / National
Chiwenga's war vets from Mashonaland East join Mutsvangwa ouster calls
16 Nov 2018 at 05:28hrs | Views
War Veterans in Mashonaland East Province have joined their Mashonaland West counterparts' quest to recall Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa on allegations of sowing divisions and undermining their patron, President Mnangagwa. Mutsvangwa also stands accused of alienating himself from the membership of the association after being appointed President Mnangagwa's special advisor, a post he no longer holds.
War veterans in Bulawayo said the decision required a national executive meeting, while Midlands chairperson Virginia Mpaso said their executive would meet on Monday to discuss the issue. ZNLWVA Mashonaland East provincial chairman Daniel Sigauke last night said their membership was disturbed by the allegations being levelled against their national chairman and were going to meet over him.
He said it was unfortunate that Mutsvangwa was sowing divisions at a time when the President was working towards reviving the economy. He said it was unfair that Mutsvangwa would say negative things about President Mnangagwa who was only four months in office.
"As Mashonaland East, we are saying it is unfortunate at this hour; the transitional period where we are working to stabilise things that Mutsvangwa says bad things.
"It is unfortunate that Mutsvangwa says that Mugabe was better after all what we as war veterans went through.
"We were victimised. As a province, we rally behind President Mnangagwa and his policies, mostly because there is opposition and land barons who do not want to expose corruption. He (Mutsvangwa) is derailing development. "We have called for an emergency meeting and among other issues, we will discuss Mutsvangwa's issue," he said.
Sigauke said if Mutsvangwa said the things being attributed to him, then they consider that as his personal, but unacceptable opinion.
"The President has done a lot to realign the economy and it will be asking for too much to start complaining at this early stage," he said.
Mpaso said they were yet to decide on the matter.
"As Midlands, we have not yet met. We are meeting on Monday and we will also discuss this issue," she said.
ZNLWVA provincial chairperson for Bulawayo Cephas Ncube said the decision to recall national chairman Mutsvangwa is a national issue, which requires a full national executive meeting.
"This is a national issue and we cannot handle it as a provincial thing because there is a constitution that has to be followed," he said.
"All I can say is that the national executive will take a position."
Masvingo chairman Ignatius Murindi confirmed that they would meet today (Friday) and a position would have been made by afternoon. Harare chairman, Hoyini Bhila said while the province had not yet called for a meeting, the general feeling was that most members were siding with Mashonaland West for recalling Mutsvangwa. He said Mutsvangwa had deserted his fellow comrades and only became vocal when he would have been affected personally instead of fighting for the interests of the war veterans.
"Personally, I totally support Mashonaland West stance. If they (Mashonaland West) made observations, they have a right to recall him. Their observations are genuine and not allegations. It's unfortunate that when things were bad for the war veterans, Mutsvangwa was busy travelling out of the country.
"He has not been attending meetings. He is someone who always comes out when personally affected. He is ego-centric and always raises issues that have nothing to do the welfare of the war veterans," he said.
Efforts to get comments from Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South Sonny Mguni and Section Ncube respectively were fruitless as their phones were not available. The war veterans' provincial leadership comprising the executive, national members from the province and district chairpersons met in Chinhoyi on Tuesday where the resolution was passed.
ZNLWVA provincial chairperson for Mashonaland West Province Cornelius Muoni confirmed the resolution by the war veterans. He, however, said that the provincial executive was yet to write to him. Responding to news of the Mashonaland West provincial executive decision to recall Mutsvangwa, ZNLWVA national spokesperson Douglas Mahiya said the resolution remains a desire until the national executive sat and ratified it.
"If it is their desire to recall the national chairman Chris Mutsvangwa, their decision can only be respected if all the other provinces agree. It would have been wiser if they had consulted other provinces. Their desire can only be ratified by a full national executive meeting which the national chairman (Mutsvangwa), who is the only one mandated by our constitution to call for meetings, calls for such.
"It is the prerogative of the national chairman to call for national executive meetings other than those that are already scheduled. As it is now, the Mashonaland West resolution remains wishful thinking. Bear in mind, Mutsvangwa has a High Court order declaring him the chairman of the ZNLWVA until our national congress in 2022 or 2023," said Mahiya.
War veterans in Bulawayo said the decision required a national executive meeting, while Midlands chairperson Virginia Mpaso said their executive would meet on Monday to discuss the issue. ZNLWVA Mashonaland East provincial chairman Daniel Sigauke last night said their membership was disturbed by the allegations being levelled against their national chairman and were going to meet over him.
He said it was unfortunate that Mutsvangwa was sowing divisions at a time when the President was working towards reviving the economy. He said it was unfair that Mutsvangwa would say negative things about President Mnangagwa who was only four months in office.
"As Mashonaland East, we are saying it is unfortunate at this hour; the transitional period where we are working to stabilise things that Mutsvangwa says bad things.
"It is unfortunate that Mutsvangwa says that Mugabe was better after all what we as war veterans went through.
"We were victimised. As a province, we rally behind President Mnangagwa and his policies, mostly because there is opposition and land barons who do not want to expose corruption. He (Mutsvangwa) is derailing development. "We have called for an emergency meeting and among other issues, we will discuss Mutsvangwa's issue," he said.
Sigauke said if Mutsvangwa said the things being attributed to him, then they consider that as his personal, but unacceptable opinion.
"The President has done a lot to realign the economy and it will be asking for too much to start complaining at this early stage," he said.
Mpaso said they were yet to decide on the matter.
"As Midlands, we have not yet met. We are meeting on Monday and we will also discuss this issue," she said.
"This is a national issue and we cannot handle it as a provincial thing because there is a constitution that has to be followed," he said.
"All I can say is that the national executive will take a position."
Masvingo chairman Ignatius Murindi confirmed that they would meet today (Friday) and a position would have been made by afternoon. Harare chairman, Hoyini Bhila said while the province had not yet called for a meeting, the general feeling was that most members were siding with Mashonaland West for recalling Mutsvangwa. He said Mutsvangwa had deserted his fellow comrades and only became vocal when he would have been affected personally instead of fighting for the interests of the war veterans.
"Personally, I totally support Mashonaland West stance. If they (Mashonaland West) made observations, they have a right to recall him. Their observations are genuine and not allegations. It's unfortunate that when things were bad for the war veterans, Mutsvangwa was busy travelling out of the country.
"He has not been attending meetings. He is someone who always comes out when personally affected. He is ego-centric and always raises issues that have nothing to do the welfare of the war veterans," he said.
Efforts to get comments from Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South Sonny Mguni and Section Ncube respectively were fruitless as their phones were not available. The war veterans' provincial leadership comprising the executive, national members from the province and district chairpersons met in Chinhoyi on Tuesday where the resolution was passed.
ZNLWVA provincial chairperson for Mashonaland West Province Cornelius Muoni confirmed the resolution by the war veterans. He, however, said that the provincial executive was yet to write to him. Responding to news of the Mashonaland West provincial executive decision to recall Mutsvangwa, ZNLWVA national spokesperson Douglas Mahiya said the resolution remains a desire until the national executive sat and ratified it.
"If it is their desire to recall the national chairman Chris Mutsvangwa, their decision can only be respected if all the other provinces agree. It would have been wiser if they had consulted other provinces. Their desire can only be ratified by a full national executive meeting which the national chairman (Mutsvangwa), who is the only one mandated by our constitution to call for meetings, calls for such.
"It is the prerogative of the national chairman to call for national executive meetings other than those that are already scheduled. As it is now, the Mashonaland West resolution remains wishful thinking. Bear in mind, Mutsvangwa has a High Court order declaring him the chairman of the ZNLWVA until our national congress in 2022 or 2023," said Mahiya.
Source - the herald
