Chimene threatens to beat Tshinga Dube

War Veterans minister Tshinga Dube has accused Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandi Chimene of threatening to assault him for allegedly siding with a rival faction of the freedom fighters led by Christopher Mutsvangwa, before she unleashed a sangoma (witchdoctor) on him.

Dube, who was in Mutare at the weekend with Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi and his permanent secretary Walter Tapfumaneyi, said Chimene who leads a rival faction threatened to assault him.

Dube said after the threats by Chimene, she unleashed a sangoma on him in an effort to intimidate him.

Chimene leads a break-away faction of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association (ZNLWVA), which is tussling for control with the Mutsvangwa-led executive.

Meanwhile, the Christopher Mutsvangwa-led war veterans executive will today meet Government as part of measures to find common ground following animosity that has cascaded to grassroot war veterans.

The indaba will also seek to find ways of uniting the war veterans who have been divided, with some aligned to Mandi Chimene, while others are affiliated to Mutsvangwa.

Secretary for Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators and Ex-detainees Retired Brigadier-General Walter Tapfumaneyi said they will include all members of the executive. These include secretary-general and spokespersons Victor Matemadanda and Douglas Mahiya, respectively.

The process seeks to mainstream war veterans with the party Zanu-PF on the basis that the veterans cannot be an affiliate of the party, but should find space in its structures.