News / National
Tshinga Dube clarifies Mutsvangwa 'ouster'
08 Mar 2016 at 01:21hrs | Views
TSHINGA Dube, the Minister of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees yesterday said he has no authority to decide the fate of Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association chairperson Chris Mutsvangwa as he was elected to the position.
Dube, who was appointed by President Mugabe to replace Mutsvangwa as minister on Saturday, said he only "suggested" that to deal with the divisions rocking the former liberation fighters' movement, holding elections to usher in a new leadership, may be necessary.
"Mutsvangwa was elected by war veterans and it's not me who can replace him. I don't have authority to replace him," said Dube, who told The Chronicle yesterday that war veterans "should elect another chairman because they can't work under someone who has been suspended from the party (Zanu-PF)"
"I said maybe after meeting the President, they may have to carry out elections. How do you bring them together when they're divided? I was simply making a suggestion."
Dube said it was his vision that the planned meeting between war veterans and President Mugabe would also include key ministries like that of Finance in order to find lasting solutions to the plight of former freedom fighters.
"We're still mobilising resources so that we secure transport and accommodation for the delegates. We don't want them to be stranded in Harare like vagabonds. We're organising a serious meeting with His Excellency and it's our wish that the Minister of Finance, Patrick Chinamasa, is there, although we're yet to invite him, because most issues affecting war veterans are around welfare, school fees and medical care," Dube said.
"We also want to invite other key ministries like that of Lands. The President will be out of the country this week so it'll give us enough time to prepare for that meeting."
Last week, the Politburo found Mutsvangwa guilty of undermining the authority of Zanu-PF's President and First Secretary, and insulting the First Family.
He will not hold any party position during his suspension, although he remains a Zanu-PF member and National Assembly representative.
Dube, who was appointed by President Mugabe to replace Mutsvangwa as minister on Saturday, said he only "suggested" that to deal with the divisions rocking the former liberation fighters' movement, holding elections to usher in a new leadership, may be necessary.
"Mutsvangwa was elected by war veterans and it's not me who can replace him. I don't have authority to replace him," said Dube, who told The Chronicle yesterday that war veterans "should elect another chairman because they can't work under someone who has been suspended from the party (Zanu-PF)"
"I said maybe after meeting the President, they may have to carry out elections. How do you bring them together when they're divided? I was simply making a suggestion."
"We're still mobilising resources so that we secure transport and accommodation for the delegates. We don't want them to be stranded in Harare like vagabonds. We're organising a serious meeting with His Excellency and it's our wish that the Minister of Finance, Patrick Chinamasa, is there, although we're yet to invite him, because most issues affecting war veterans are around welfare, school fees and medical care," Dube said.
"We also want to invite other key ministries like that of Lands. The President will be out of the country this week so it'll give us enough time to prepare for that meeting."
Last week, the Politburo found Mutsvangwa guilty of undermining the authority of Zanu-PF's President and First Secretary, and insulting the First Family.
He will not hold any party position during his suspension, although he remains a Zanu-PF member and National Assembly representative.
Source - chronicle
