Jabulani Sibanda on the ropes, Phetshu wants him fired

FORMER Matabeleland South war veterans chairman Jabulani Phetshu Sibanda seen as one of the backers of national war veterans boss Jabulani Sibanda yesterday disowned his embattled ally saying the national executive should come together with the council of elders and fire him if need be.

Last Friday, the council of elders expelled Sibanda for alleged indiscipline. Sibanda was accused of various transgressions among them, disrespecting President Mugabe who is patron of the war veterans association and first Lady Grace Mugabe by implying that they had initiated "a bedroom coup'' on Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

 Sibanda also threatened to march to State House in a manner similar to the infamous MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai's planned demos to illegally remove President Mugabe.

Phetshu Sibanda said after the replacement of Jabulani Sibanda, the war veterans should apply to meet President Mugabe and apologize for Sibanda's remarks.

He said the various structures in the war veterans association worked tirelessly in the run up to last year's harmonized elections which were won resoundingly by Zanu-PF and would not allow Sibanda to soil their efforts.

"We ask that the work done by the association shouldn't be tainted by recent statements from Jabulani Sibanda who is the chairperson," said Phetshu Sibanda who ironically endorsed the ousted war veteran boss to contest for the national chairperson post in party's December Congress.

"I hope he wasn't speaking on behalf of the association, it was his view and in future we want that when a leader speaks, they should explain that they're expressing personal opinions or associations and people they represent.

Phetshu Sibanda added, "When it comes to the head of state, everyone must respect him. There is no one who supports words that insult the head of the state. We don't support those statements. Those sentiments came as a surprise to us.

"There's a structure with authority to suspend Jabulani Sibanda and that structure is the national organ of the war veterans association. It has the right to call Jabulani Sibanda, suspend him and replace him with someone.

"After that, they go to the President and apologize. Some war veterans don't know what's happening and those comrades are represented by the national organ. That's why we're saying the national executive should convene a meeting and summon their chairman and do what's right for the war veterans associations."

Phetshu Sibanda said war veterans in the association are represented by the national organ and do not fall under the council of elders, "but when the council of elders are talking against this (Cde Sibanda's statements), we fully support them.

"We should however avoid creating two groups. The council of elders should approach the national organ because the national organ has the mandate to suspend or to fire Jabu not the council of elders," he said.