News / National
War vets congress shelved
31 May 2024 at 21:18hrs | Views
The much-anticipated elective congress of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), originally scheduled for June 14-16, has been postponed to foster unity among ex-combatants and ensure democratic elections that include all structures of the association.
These structures are currently led by Comrades Christopher Mutsvangwa, Moffat Marashwa, and Andrease Mathibela.
A joint statement by the Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs Monica Mavhunga, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare July Moyo, and Zanu-PF Secretary for Veterans, Ex-Political Prisoners, Detainees, and Restrictees Douglas Mahiya revealed that both the party and the government recognized multiple leadership structures claiming legitimacy under the same name, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association.
The presence of three separate ZNLWVA structures led by Mutsvangwa, Marashwa, and Mathibela necessitated the formation of a single, unified association to represent all ex-combatants.
"It has been noted with concern that multiple leadership structures claim legitimacy using the same name, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association. This has created confusion, hence the need to urgently rectify the situation. In consultation with the then Acting President Kembo Mohadi, on behalf of the patron, His Excellency the President, Dr. ED Mnangagwa, we hereby direct as follows:
"(a) That democratic elections inclusive of all structures of the ZNLWA led by Comrades Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa, Moffat Marashwa, and Andrease Mathibela be convened from district, provincial, and national levels to produce a single leadership.
"(b) That dates for the elections across the three levels will be communicated in due course and all other arrangements by the separate ZNLWVA groupings are hereby nullified.
"(c) That all members of the ZNLWVA should desist from name-dropping forthwith," the joint statement read.
Douglas Mahiya, who read the statement, emphasized the importance of democratic principles, noting that ordinary war veterans at the district level should participate in the election process.
"They should enjoy the right to choose a leader of their choice, so that's democracy. The dates have been shelved to kickstart the process of elections from the district level to the national level," he said.
These structures are currently led by Comrades Christopher Mutsvangwa, Moffat Marashwa, and Andrease Mathibela.
A joint statement by the Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs Monica Mavhunga, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare July Moyo, and Zanu-PF Secretary for Veterans, Ex-Political Prisoners, Detainees, and Restrictees Douglas Mahiya revealed that both the party and the government recognized multiple leadership structures claiming legitimacy under the same name, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association.
The presence of three separate ZNLWVA structures led by Mutsvangwa, Marashwa, and Mathibela necessitated the formation of a single, unified association to represent all ex-combatants.
"It has been noted with concern that multiple leadership structures claim legitimacy using the same name, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association. This has created confusion, hence the need to urgently rectify the situation. In consultation with the then Acting President Kembo Mohadi, on behalf of the patron, His Excellency the President, Dr. ED Mnangagwa, we hereby direct as follows:
"(b) That dates for the elections across the three levels will be communicated in due course and all other arrangements by the separate ZNLWVA groupings are hereby nullified.
"(c) That all members of the ZNLWVA should desist from name-dropping forthwith," the joint statement read.
Douglas Mahiya, who read the statement, emphasized the importance of democratic principles, noting that ordinary war veterans at the district level should participate in the election process.
"They should enjoy the right to choose a leader of their choice, so that's democracy. The dates have been shelved to kickstart the process of elections from the district level to the national level," he said.
Source - the herald
