Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
WAR Veterans have been urged to prioritise peace and unity during the crucial upcoming congress this month.
The congress is a critical platform for selecting leadership that will champion and safeguard the interests of veterans of the liberation struggle.
The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) congress will be held from June 14 to 16. This marks the first congress since 2013 in Masvingo where Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa and his executive were elected.
The Covid-19 pandemic, the Zanu-PF congress and conferences as well as last year’s harmonised elections meant the five-yearly congress couldn’t be held as planned. However, the upcoming event fulfils the association’s constitutional requirements.
An estimated 700 delegates are expected to attend. The ZNLWVA’s executive, led by Political Commissar, Cde Joel Mureremba, is currently travelling across the country to inform members about the congress.
Addressing war veterans from Matabeleland South in Gwanda on Wednesday, Cde Mureremba assured them preparations for the congress are on track.
“We recently held a meeting where we came out with a roadmap for the congress and also created 10 committees to prepare for the congress. Our committees are working so that our congress will go well. I was tasked to move around provinces to give you a message about the congress. The war veterans association led by Cde Mutsvangwa is there legally and it will be dissolved at the congress.
“My encouragement to you is that let’s go and hold peaceful elections at the congress. Let’s go to the congress united. We are doing this united as an association and not as individuals or according to our tribal backgrounds and geographic location. We have to show the nation that what we are doing is being done by mature people who fought to liberate the country under Zanla and ZPRA forces united,” he said.
Cde Mureremba called on ZNLWVA members to elect resourceful, hardworking, and people-centric leaders during the congress. He said the leadership should effectively represent the interests of all veterans.
He announced that teams would be deployed across provinces to accredit delegates, urging each province to ensure full participation.
Cde Mureremba also clarified the distinction between the War Veterans League and the ZNLWVA. He explained that the War Veterans League is an organ within Zanu-PF composed of former liberation fighters, while the ZNLWVA is an affiliate organisation. He reassured members that all ZNLWVA activities are transparent and approved by the Zanu-PF leadership.
“We approached President Mnangagwa and requested permission to form a league and our request was granted. We have to support our league as an association. Let’s show that this league belongs to us and it has a crucial role to play in the party.
“The role of the War Veterans League in the party is to mobilise war veterans to participate in socio-economic, political and cultural issues of the party. The league is also responsible for ensuring that we have projects and programmes for the war veterans,” he said.
ZNLWVA secretary for finance, Cde Japhet Phuthi, stressed the importance of selecting leaders who will ensure the association’s legacy endures.
He acknowledged the passing away of many comrades due to age and highlighted the need for the association’s values to live on even after their generation is gone. —@DubeMatutu
Online Reporter