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Jabulani Sibanda

Patrick Chitumba Senior Reporter
OUSTED Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) leader Jabulani Sibanda’s loyalists face the boot from the association as the new leadership moves to weed out unruly elements.

ZNLWVA chairman Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa said they would conduct a restructuring exercise soon after Zanu-PF’s Congress in December in a development that would see the expulsion of all those who continue sympathising with Sibanda’s cause.

Sibanda was recently expelled from Zanu-PF for insulting the First Family and threatening to mobilise war veterans to march to State House. He was also sacked from his position as leader of the ZNLWVA.

Cde Mutsvangwa said those who continue to dig in over Sibanda’s case would be booted out. “They’re cadres of the party and we hope that they realise that they can’t continue following an individual (Sibanda). As cadres of the party they should rally behind President Mugabe who is patron of the association and those who refuse to do so will be left in the cold,” he said.

“It’s cold out there and they will be misleading themselves to think that there is a future in following the expelled Sibanda.”

Cde Mutsvangwa said the new ZNLWVA leadership was going to put in place proper structures for the association which was being run by an individual.

“I say this with a heavy heart but we’re going to restructure the association soon after congress. We’re going to put in place new and proper structures for an association that was being run from the head of an individual,” he said.

The restructuring exercise, he said, was going to cascade to the provinces and districts so that there are people who will advocate for the welfare of war veterans and economic transformation of the country.

Cde Mutsvangwa said it was sad to note that the ZNLWVA under the leadership of Sibanda didn’t even have a desk or office to its name.

“The previous leadership allowed itself to be used to unseat President Mugabe since they were now out of synch with the vision of the association,” he said.

Cde Mutsvangwa said Sibanda and his ousted leadership were aligned to a faction within Zanu-PF and had even become mercenaries that wanted to topple the President.

“They’re my fellow comrades and nothing can take that away from them but they failed to renew the association by holding periodic democratic elections,” he said.

Cde Mutsvangwa said after restructuring the organisation, they were going to work on improving the welfare of war veterans.

He said it was high time issues such as improved allowances, access to medical services and school fees for their children became part of the agenda.

“We want to fulfil the aspirations of the comrades who made it alive and those who failed to make it from the liberation struggle and their partners in the rural and urban communities. Now is the time to deliver so that they live a better life,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.

He said after addressing the welfare of the war veterans, his association was going to assist the government chart a new economic vision for the country.

Cde Mutsvangwa said foreign direct investment as well as convincing Zimbabweans in the diaspora to invest in the country was critical to turn around the fortunes of the economy. “We feel captains of industry have failed Zimbabwe. The country is nowhere business wise. These captains of industry are a product of war yet they are letting us down. We therefore feel the need to call upon diasporans as well as foreign investors to invest in the country,” he said.