Bogus war veteran exposed as a Rhodesian war veteran

ZANU-PF Manicaland provincial secretary for labour and production, Nathaniel Mhiripiri, was last Friday exposed as a fake war veteran after he was humiliated at the burial of 71 remains of fallen heroes at Herbert Mine or Matumba Six. The controversial Mhiripiri who has had several brushes with the law in the past was left with egg on his face after he was chucked out from a war-veterans group that was performing during the reburial of the fallen heroes.

Mhiripiri who was sitting on the edge of the podium housing dignitaries among them Vice-President, Dr Joice Mujuru, Minister of Presidential Affairs, Didymus Mutasa, Minister of Home Affairs, Kembo Mohadi, Minister of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Oppah Muchinguri, Minister of State in the Vice-President's Office, Sylvester Nguni, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Chris Mushohwe and the provincial Zanu-PF leadership rose to join veterans of the liberation struggle in song, only to be told in no uncertain terms to leave the group.

As the veterans of the liberation struggle went down memory lane through song, Makoni South legislator and recently elected Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association secretary for information and publicity, Mandi Chimene approached Mhiripiri and told him to leave.

"Makauraya vamwe vedu nguva yehondo, nhasi moda kutinyepera kuti uri muwar vet. Ibva hako izvozvi. (You killed some of our colleagues during the liberation struggle, but today you are masquerading as a war veteran, please leave," Chimene was heard saying.

Mhiripiri tried to resist, but Chimene would not budge and with his tail neatly tucked between his legs, Mhiripiri withdrew from the group of the singing veterans of the liberation struggle to stand near the public address system with shame written all over his face.

In an interview after the burial of the remains of the fallen heroes, Mhiripiri was at pains to justify his war veteran status.

"I was trained here in the country. I actively participated in the liberation struggle and it does not mean one had to cross the border to be trained as a liberation fighter. I am a fighter and there is no difference between me and those who trained outside the country. My contributions to the liberation struggle were immense," he said.

When pressed further to reveal the actual base where he was trained and his trainers, Mhiripiri, said: "What is a war veteran? Being a war veteran is not about crossing the border to train as a fighter. Those claiming that I am not a war veteran are afraid of my influence in the party. They know that I command a lot of support and want to tarnish my image. It is all about tarnishing my image ahead of the Central Committee elections as the likes of Mandi knows that they stand no chance against me. I have since appraised Didymus Mutasa about what happened here."

Chimene dismissed Mhiripiri's claims and said if he was a genuine liberation war veteran, he should tell the world where he was actually trained and who his commanders were.

"Why is he at pains to tell us where he was trained? We do not know him among our rank and file. What we know is that Mhiripiri was among the Rhodesian Forces who gave us a torrid time during the liberation struggle. I could not allow him to join us in remembering our fallen heroes, the same people he persecuted during the struggle. Maybe some of his victims were among the people we were giving a decent reburial.

"Mhiripiri was notorious for being cruel and inflicted so much pain among innocent Zimbabweans when he was stationed at the infamous Ruda Camp in Honde Valley. He should also tell us where his victims are buried. By trying to mix with us, he thinks that we are stupid and naive to the extent of not knowing our persecutors during the liberation struggle," said Chimene.

A senior war veteran who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: "I was among the commanders who during the liberation struggle operated in the Tangwena sector, but we know that Mhiripiri was a Rhodesian soldier. He was notorious in our area of operation and many people remember him for his Rhodesian links. He should not lie to people that he is a freedom fighter. He is a war veteran yes, but a Rhodesian war veteran. He is not one of us genuine freedom fighters."