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Bulawayo Bureau
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association Bulawayo Province members will hold a potentially explosive meeting on Saturday following accusations that the new executive has elements loyal to ousted former national chairman Jabulani Sibanda.
The war veterans Bulawayo Secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Japhet Phuthi said the meeting would be held at the association’s provincial headquarters in Entumbane.
Cde Phuthi said the meeting’s agenda includes the introduction of the newly-elected executive, the first general meeting after the newly-elected executive as well as issues affecting war veterans in the province.
“All members of Bulawayo Province war veterans association are expected to attend in full force,” he said.
A group of war veterans led by a member of the war veterans’ council of elders Cde George Mlala last week accused the new executive of aligning itself with the ousted Sibanda.
The disgruntled war veterans petitioned the association’s chairperson Cde Chris Mutsvangwa calling for the stepping down of the new executive, led by Cde Cephas Ncube, saying it was not constitutionally elected.
They said the Ncube-led executive comprised people who agreed with Sibanda when he insulted the First Family and accused Amai Grace Mugabe of organising a “bedroom coup” against former vice president Joice Mujuru.
Cde Mutsvangwa, however, dismissed the war veterans’ demands, saying the elections chapter had been closed until the 2018 elections and the ex-combatants must unite.
He accused those behind the campaign against the new executive of indiscipline and declared that the Bulawayo executive still stands.
However, at a meeting of disgruntled members last week in Nkulumane, Cde Mlala said Cde Mutsvangwa’s response would not stop them from expressing their dissatisfaction over the ‘imposed’ executive.
He said war veterans would have appreciated if Cde Mutsvangwa had sent a team to Bulawayo to assess the situation and address the concerns raised.
“(Cde) Mutsvangwa is ignorant of what is happening in Bulawayo because he was not here when those people were elected unprocedurally into the executive. We’re not happy with the way the elections were held and we’re not satisfied with his response,” said Cde Mlala.
In response, Cde Mutsvangwa told The Chronicle that he was: “fully informed as the national chairperson of the war veterans and I know how the new Bulawayo provincial executive was elected.
“ I will stick to my position and I want to appeal to the war veterans to support the existing executive for the benefit of the association.
“I view such kind of behaviour as indiscipline.
“If they’re genuine war veterans they will endorse the executive, because it has been endorsed by their chairman and the entire leadership.
“I will not subscribe to what they want because if we hold elections to change the executive other members will complain and we will not go forward.”
Online Reporter