Matemadanda defends ‘fellow comrade’ Masuku

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ZIMBABWE National Liberation War Veterans’ Association secretary-general Victor Matemadanda yesterday said there was nothing amiss in Zanu PF Bulawayo senator Angeline Masuku attending an ex-combatants’ meeting, as she did in Bulawayo at the weekend.

ZIMBABWE National Liberation War Veterans’ Association secretary-general Victor Matemadanda yesterday said there was nothing amiss in Zanu PF Bulawayo senator Angeline Masuku attending an ex-combatants’ meeting, as she did in Bulawayo at the weekend.

by Nqobile Bhebhe

Victor Matemadanda, War Vets secretary general
Victor Matemadanda, War Vets secretary general

Matemadanda made the remarks in an interview with Southern Eye after Zanu PF Women’s League deputy secretary Eunice Sandi-Moyo came out guns blazing, accusing Masuku of aligning herself with the opposition camp and clandestinely campaigning for the Vice-President’s post.

The meeting at the centre of controversy was addressed by sacked War Veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa and former war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda.

“Who doubts Masuku’s war credentials? Those youths are just being used,” Matemadanda said.

“Are they war veterans?

“What’s Sandi-Moyo’s problem? Is she saying that Masuku should not associate with fellow comrades (war veterans)?

If they know that Masuku is a heavyweight in her own right, why are they not inviting her to their meetings? “I am not ex-Zipra, but Sandi-Moyo is playing cheap politics. To me, she sounds like a person who is secretly coveting the VP post. She pretends to be close to (Vice-President Phelekezela) Mphoko, yet she wants his job.”

Matemadanda said Masuku’s contribution to the country was well-documented and only “cowards and people who are after the VP posts are scared of her”.

Sandi-Moyo was quoted saying Jane Ngwenya was the most senior ex-Zapu female leader in Zanu PF instead of Masuku.

However, Ngwenya, like Sandi-Moyo’s record in Zapu, was viewed with suspicion in Zapu as they had crossed to Zanu PF before the Unity Accord was signed.

When Zapu legislators and ministers were fired, Ngwenya refused to relinquish her deputy ministerial post, leading to a fallout with her colleagues and since then, she has been ostracised.

Masuku, a teacher by profession, joined the liberation struggle in 1963 and later became secretary for Bulawayo district during the colonial era and later crossed into Zambia.

In 2014, Masuku and new War Veterans minister Tshinga Dube came under fire from Bulawayo province for allegedly plotting against President Robert Mugabe.

The pair, together with the late Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, were denounced by party members at Zanu PF’s provincial headquarters, Davis Hall.

Some of the placards held by party members read: “Phansi lo Angeline Masuku”, “Phansi lo Tshinga Dube” (Down with Angeline Masuku) and “Down with Tshinga Dube”.

Masuku was also accused of not being a Zanu PF supporter, as she was said to be reluctant to wear party regalia.