War vets warn Zanu PF

WAR veterans yesterday issued a strong rebuke against Zanu PF, warning the party to desist from drawing the former fighters into its factional wars.

WAR veterans yesterday issued a strong rebuke against Zanu PF, warning the party to desist from drawing the former fighters into its factional wars.

EVERSON MUSHAVA/MOSES MATENGA

The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) national executive fired the warning shots at a press conference in Harare where it reiterated its support for its under siege chairman Jabulani Sibanda.

Sibanda has come under a barrage of attacks from the State media in the past few days amid claims he is against First Lady Grace Mugabe’s ascendancy in Zanu PF.

President Robert Mugabe escalated the attacks last week when he claimed Sibanda was possessed by the devil.

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JOICE-MUJURU

The war veterans’ leader is accused of supporting under fire Vice-President Joice Mujuru and a shadowy group of ex-fighters last week claimed it had ousted him. However, the ZNLWVA executive yesterday fought from Sibanda’s corner and urged Zanu PF to leave it out of its dirty wars.

“To Zanu PF, we would like to urge them to desist from this self-destructive factionalism, avoid involving us in those divisive acts and concentrate on the duties bestowed upon them by the masses of Zimbabwe,” ZNLWVA spokesperson James Kaunye said.

“Indeed, what is happening today is a complete insult to the people and a disregard of their wishes.

“The mandate that we got was to deliver livelihood to the people through ZimAsset (the Zanu PF blueprint) and other party programmes.”

He was flanked by secretary-general Shadreck Makombe, treasurer-general Edith Kagoro, secretary for security Adwell Bonde and Sibanda’s deputy Japhet Chinake.

Kaunye accused Zanu PF of losing focus and forgetting how Sibanda and his executive tirelessly campaigned to overturn the MDC-T poll victory in 2008.