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Christopher Mutsvangwa

Farirai Machivenyika, Harare Bureau
THE Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) has organised a sit-in in Harare today as it intensfies calls for President Mugabe to resign.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, ZNLWVA chairman Cde Chris Mutsvangwa said Zimbabweans should not rest until President Mugabe vacates office.

“We are saying, Mugabe, go now! Mugabe, go now! Your time is up. Please leave State House and let the country start on a new page. You should have the dignity and decency to spare the country further turmoil by simply announcing your departure immediately. If he can not, and this is the call we are repeating, we are bringing back the people of Zimbabwe to the streets and he will have to settle his issues with the people of Zimbabwe once more.

“Tomorrow is the day. While Parliament may be doing its business of dispensing with him, the people of Zimbabwe will be making sure, and this time there will be a sit-in,” he said.

Cde Mutsvangwa appealed to the business community to support their initiative to ensure that people attend today’s event.

“We, the war veterans are going back to the people and calling upon them to come back and we are appealing to the business community. We saw the support you gave on Saturday. Now, we want even more support. It will be a sit-in until Mugabe’s back is seen by the people of Zimbabwe. We are not going to be leaving Harare until he is gone this time.

“We want the whole population to descend upon Harare and give an unmistakable message that we want to see Mugabe’s back and let the country move on. His rule has been disastrous especially in the past 15 years,” Cde Mutsvangwa added.

He thanked the multitude of Zimbabweans that demonstrated against President Mugabe’s rule on Saturday and said as war veterans, they would ensure that the people’s aspirations are fulfilled.

“We are determined as war veterans association that their endeavours do not come to note. We welcome that they came out in big numbers. We are happy that we have been inclusive, we are happy that all the opposition figures and various strata of society came out in support of the demonstration on Saturday.

“We are also happy that the pressure which people have been putting has galvanised the ruling party to start initiating corrective measures towards the recall of their errant leader who tries to hang on in office when his party and the people no longer want him to be in that position,” he said.

The ZNLWVA expressed disappointment that President Mugabe was failing to understand that he was in an untenable position.

He said President Mugabe should have resigned when he addressed the nation on Saturday.

“We were disappointed that, in the midst of all those army generals, he appeared to swap an agreed position and proceeded to read a document which clearly has the trademark of Jonathan (Moyo) to the chagrin of the nation and utter outrage of the whole world. He proceeds to pretend his presidency is normal, it’s no longer normal Mr Mugabe,” Cde Mutsvangwa said.

Millions of Zimbabweans turned up to demonstrate against President Mugabe on Saturday.

The ruling Zanu-PF has since relieved him of his position as president and first secretary of the party together with several officials that were causing political and socio-economic upheavals in the country.