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Cde Jabulani Sibanda

Nduduzo Tshuma Senior Political Reporter
WAR veterans have been warned against heeding calls by some rogue elements to march on State House in Harare tomorrow. Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) secretary general Cde Shadreck Makombe yesterday said some mischievous elements were misleading war veterans into believing that they are required to wait at various pick up points where they would be collected for the trip to Harare for the illegal march.

He said the ZNLWVA national executive is scheduled to meet in Harare tomorrow to discuss a number of issues, among them the “prevailing” political situation but warned members against listening to those bent on hijacking the meeting by turning it into a protest.

The war veterans meeting follows a move by the Council of Elders to expel war veterans chairman Cde Jabulani Sibanda last week for suggesting that President Mugabe and the First Lady Grace Mugabe wanted to stage a “bedroom coup” on Vice President Joice Mujuru.

Cde Sibanda also said they would march to State House.

Cde Makombe said it had come to their attention that there are some elements who are going around the provinces directing war veterans to organise themselves into groups of 10 per district so that they could be provided with transport.

“We are holding our national executive meeting on Thursday and there are some mischievous people telling war veterans that they would be picked up at various points in groups of 10. The meeting is for the national executive only to be attended by national executive members,” said Cde Makombe.

“We received information that some people were telling war veterans to meet at points to be transported to Harare where they would hold a march to State House which is wrong. That is misinformation, only the national executive is meeting.”

Cde Makombe said the meeting would discuss issues regarding the welfare of members and the “prevailing situation.”

He was non-committal on whether Cde Sibanda’s issue would be on the agenda.

“It is not the reason we are meeting but I will not say it will be raised or not. We are not a moribund organisation but an orderly one,” he said.