Zimpapers Logo

Richard Muponde Gwanda Correspondent
WAR veterans from Matabeleland South yesterday called for the sacking of the provincial war veterans executive led by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Cde Obedingwa Mguni over allegations of working with ousted national chairperson, Cde Chris Mutsvangwa.

Cde Mutsvangwa was dethroned as Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) chairperson at the weekend following a vote of no confidence.

His deputy Cde Headman Moyo and secretary general, Cde Victor Matemadanda were also booted out.

Cde Mutsvangwa was replaced by Manicaland provincial affairs minister Cde Mandi Chimene who previously held the position of secretary for Information and Publicity in the same executive.

Cde Moyo was replaced by Cde George Mlala from Bulawayo while Cde Michael Mapfumo from Harare was put in the place of Cde Matemadanda.

The Matabeleland South group, led by Cde Eyer Moyo who was reportedly elected chairperson in the August 8 provincial elections, said Cde Mguni and his executive must step down with immediate effect.

Some of the group members included Cde Christopher Dube, Cde Holopong Sebata and Cde Msongelwa Sibanda.

Cde Moyo’s executive was reportedly sidelined by Cde Mutsvangwa who replaced it with one led by Cde Mguni two weeks after the elections.

Cde Moyo said they had consulted other ex-combatants in the province and it was agreed that Cde Mguni’s executive should be ousted because they were handpicked to work with Cde Mutsvangwa.

“Those were not elected members. The full executive which won the elections on August 8 last year was side-lined and replaced on August 22 with names which came with Headman and Matemadanda after they had handpicked them together with Mutsvangwa in Harare. To make matters worse Mguni is not a war veteran, he did not train at all. He was at school while others were fighting,” said Cde Moyo.

Cde Sebata said Cde Mguni was never trained as a fighter as he was studying in Zambia and later went to Eastern Europe to further his studies.

“A war veteran is one who was trained between January 1, 1962 and February 29, 1980. The person should also have been registered under the War Veterans Regulations of 1992 and registered again in 1997.

“His name was not found at the war veterans pensions and he failed to produce his war veteran’s identity card. He can’t lead us. If he wants to lead he should lead the recruitees or war collaborators. Recruitees’ time will come when the government considers them. It’s not our problem that he wasn’t trained. He was also disqualified for the election on the basis of that,” said Cde Sebata.

The group said Cdes Dennis Ndlovu and Ntombiyakhe Ndlovu who are in the national executive formerly led by Cde Mutsvangwa should be recalled from their positions.

The war vets said they were fully behind their patron, President Robert Mugabe and the Cde Chimene led executive.

Cde Mguni said he never took instructions from Cde Mutsvangwa as information was disseminated to provincial chairs through the secretary. He defended his war credentials saying he underwent training in Libya.

“What I know is that the national executive sits with the executive, with the Commander-in-Chief President Robert Mugabe and the instructions they are given are those that are disseminated to provincial chairs through the secretary. I have never taken orders

from Cde Mutsvangwa and I have never seen him doing that. If I say so I will be lying. Who am I to refuse to take orders from the Commander-in-Chief if he gives orders,” said Cde Mguni.

He said he was aware of some people that he beat in the elections who were opposed to his executive since the day it assumed office.