adminAuxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
The Bulawayo provincial war veterans’ executive has invited war veterans to a two-day accreditation process and a meeting to discuss the agenda ahead of their crunch indaba with President Robert Mugabe next week.
The proposed meeting was suggested by President Mugabe following squabbles and disunity among war veterans in the country.
The executive led by Cde Cephas Ncube said the freedom fighters must come “en masse” for the two-day event at their headquarters in Entumbane, which starts tomorrow.
Provincial secretary Cde Luke Mpofu said: “On the agenda will be a discussion about the trip to Harare and accreditation of delegates to Harare. On Saturday we conduct both the accreditation and meeting and on Sunday we will continue with accreditation,” said Cde Mpofu. He said delegates to Harare will be provided with transport, food and accommodation.
War veterans’ patron President Mugabe is expected to meet the freedom fighters next Thursday for a candid interaction which will allow the freedom fighters to air their grievances on all aspects.
The meeting would be all encompassing as it would feature Cabinet ministers and commanders in charge of the country’s security sectors in their capacity as war veterans.
This came after the war veterans, under the leadership of Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association chairperson Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa, had their meeting cancelled last month because it was not sanctioned by the police.
The President said the meeting would be an opportunity to correct some war veterans who, of late, have gone rogue and displayed wayward behaviour.
“We want all the war veterans to come to Harare during the first week of April, you will be informed about the date,” he said during a rally recently held in Bindura.
Zanu-PF Secretary for War Veterans in the politburo, who is also the Minister of Defence, Cde Sydney Sekeramayi, said the meeting with the President should strengthen the foundation of the nation and chart the way forward towards building a prosperous Zimbabwe.
A section of war vets led by Cde George Mlala who said he was representing Cde Mandi Chimene told a Press conference in Harare that they were not happy with the presence of Cde Mutsvangwa and his entire executive at the preparatory meeting. Cde Mlala also distributed a letter that he said he wrote to Cde Sekeramayi indicating that they were also not happy with the presence of security chiefs as well.
In response, Cde Sekeramayi was quoted saying all authentic war veterans including the generals were welcome at the meeting.
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