Zimpapers Logo

Jabulani Sibanda

Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) has called on the police to investigate the organisation’s deposed leader Jabulani Sibanda fearing that he might be hiding arms aimed at destabilising the country.Speaking during a Midlands war veterans meeting in Gweru yesterday, ZNLWVA secretary general Cde Victor Matemadanda said:

“There is need for police and state security to investigate former war vets chairman Jabulani Sibanda and his sympathisers to establish if they don’t have any armoury which could be used to revolt against government.

“If a person calls for a march to the State House that becomes a matter of national security. These people must be investigated to find out if there is no armoury which they were left with. Our fear is that they might cause instability in the country.”

Cde Matemadanda warned members sympathetic to sacked former Vice President Joice Mujuru against running an unrecognised parallel structure of ex combatants, the Zipra War Veterans Association.

He said the grouping was a threat to national security.

“We also have some people who have an association which they call Zipra War Veterans Association. This as well is dividing the people of Zimbabwe. Some of the people that are found in this are here in the Midlands Province,” said Cde Matemadanda.

He said there are individuals who intend to cause alarm and despondency by bringing back the Gukurahundi issue into the public sphere.

Cde Matemadanda said there was need for politicians to desist from using Gukurahundi as a political gimmick to penetrate the Midlands and Matabeleland regions as it was an issue of national security.

Gukurahundi, the secretary general said, had been dealt with conclusively by President Mugabe and the late former Vice President Joshua Nkomo and was brought to an end.

“There are people who are taking advantage of Gukurahundi which they were now using as leverage. These include the opposition which has nothing to offer to the people. They are not concerned about Gukurahundi issues but they want to catapult their political agenda,” he said.

“Gukurahundi issues are issues of national security that people must not just say to gain political mileage. We want people to be disciplined and be responsible when they talk because when the actual war breaks out it is the ordinary people who suffer. There is ethnic violence in other countries and civil wars that emanated from such irresponsible utterances. In Zimbabwe we do not want that.” he said.