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Richard Muponde Gwanda Correspondent
The Matabeleland South chapter of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) replaced deposed provincial chairperson, Cde Obedingwa Mguni, with Cde Eyer Moyo as the provincial chairperson at an inter district meeting held in Gwanda on Wednesday.

Five districts attended the meeting, Gwanda, Matobo, Insiza, Beitbridge and Umzingwane.

Bulilima and Mangwe where Cde Mguni hails from were conspicuous by their absence.

The delegates at the meeting resolved to be led by Cde Moyo who previously contested the position in the August 8 election last year and lost to Cde Mguni.

Cde Mguni and two other officials, Cdes Smart Tshuma and Otillia Sibanda lost their positions in the provincial executive for allegedly denigrating President Mugabe and the First Lady and participating in an illegal meeting called by war veterans chairman Cde Chris Mutsvangwa in Harare recently.

The war veterans have also recalled Cdes Dennis Ndlovu and Ntombiyakhe Ndlovu from the national executive for working with Cde Mutsvangwa.

Cdes Ernest Ncube, Mhlawempi Tshuma, Christopher Mlilo and Taruona Masendeke were ousted from the provincial executive at the same meeting joining Cdes Mguni, Smart Tshuma and Sibanda who were kicked out a week earlier.

The war veterans put their weight behind the leadership of President Robert Mugabe, his family and Zanu-PF.

Addressing the delegates soon after assuming the chair, Cde Moyo urged the former freedom fighters to make sure that Zanu-PF and President Mugabe remain in power.

“Let’s defend the revolution and defend the party and make sure it remains in government. Let’s solve our problems amicably and give each other cover as we used to do in the front during the liberation struggle. Let’s defend each other and let’s defend President Mugabe because he is a revolutionary icon,” said Cde Moyo.

He dissuaded his colleagues from involvement in politics for money.

“We spent many years in the war without a salary and our resolve was to liberate this country. Benefits will only come when Zanu-PF is in government,” he said.

Cde Mutsvangwa was sacked early last month as War Veterans Minister by President Mugabe, a position now held by Cde Tshinga Dube.

In a parting shot, Cde Mutsvangwa launched a diatribe at the President, comparing him to a frog in a sink that “adjusts as the water gets hotter . . . to death.”

“The man I had trusted and served for 40 years was no longer there,” he said of his last meeting with President Mugabe.