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Jabulani Sibanda

Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
OUSTED war veterans’ leader Cde Jabulani Sibanda yesterday insisted that he wants to meet the President, Cde Mugabe to discuss what he termed serious issues. Pressed to elaborate Cde Sibanda who said he was not moved by allegations levelled against him, said the meeting would be about the welfare of war veterans.

Commenting on Vice President Mujuru who has been asked to resign following allegations of corruption and extortion levelled against her, Cde Sibanda said only the President can fire VP Mujuru.

He said that when he declared that he would never allow the staging of a “bedroom coup”, when the First Lady was winding up her “meet the People” tours following her nomination to lead the women’s league, he meant that only the President had the powers to fire Cde Mujuru.

“According to the country’s constitution only the President can fire the VP. Any other person can’t fire the VP. Nobody can assume his powers in any circumstances without his consent,” said Cde Sibanda.

The deposed war veterans’ leader has been accused of various transgressions among them disrespecting President Mugabe, who is the patron of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association and the First Lady by implying that they were initiating a bedroom coup on VP Mujuru.

He said he was not moved by allegations that are being levelled against him and expressed hope that he would meet Cde Mugabe to discuss serious issues affecting war veterans.

“I still hope I’ll have the opportunity to meet the President and discuss key issues that concern the war veterans. I’m not worried about the allegations levelled against me because there’s no wrong that I’ve done and the President knows that,” said Cde Sibanda.

“War veterans are concerned about their welfare, their involvement in the government and the party as well as other things happening in Parliament.”

Cde Sibanda defended his war credentials, saying he was trained in Angola during the liberation struggle.

He said he was born on January 1, 1958. He accused some individuals in the Zanu-PF party of undermining President Mugabe and The First Family by fighting personal wars and destroying the party through factionalism.

He added that he had nothing to do with the alleged illegal march to State House by the war veterans and also refuted claims that he was given vehicles by Zanu-PF Mbire MP Cde David Butau.

“I never received cars from anyone and I don’t even know the person who is alleged to have given me the cars. I’ve never met him in my entire life,” said Cde Sibanda.

“The State House March has never been on our agenda and it will never be. All I know is that these allegations started when I didn’t attend the First Lady’s ‘Meet the People’ rallies.”

He said when President Mugabe spoke about the vehicles he said he had heard that he was given the vehicles.

“If you listened very carefully, the President said ‘hanzi’ akapihwa mota’ meaning that there’re some people saying that I was given cars, which is hearsay,” said Cde Sibanda.

He said he was ready for any probe.

Cde Sibanda insisted that he did not disrespect anyone and did not belong to any faction, adding that it was unfortunate that some individuals within Zanu-PF had formed factions to destroy the party.

“Some individuals from within the party have always tried to destroy the party. It’s unfortunate that these people have brought down the First Family to faction level just for them to fight their personal wars,” he said.

The President had no kind words for Cde Sibanda when he addressed thousands of party supporters who demanded the ouster of Cde Mujuru on Thursday last week describing Cde Sibanda as being possessed by Beelzebub – a contemporary name for the devil.