Chronicle EditorGeorge Maponga Masvingo Bureau
War veterans here yesterday reaffirmed their loyalty to President Mugabe and distanced themselves from elements peddling falsehoods aimed at soiling the image of the First Family in the eyes of people from the province. The former liberation war fighters pledged their full allegiance to President Mugabe as the sole zanu-pf candidate in next year’s presidential elections, and said their support to the First Family was unwavering.
Masvingo hogged the limelight after some party youths allegedly accused some senior zanu-pf members in the province of masterminding the alleged poisoning of the late Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister and national heroine Senator Shuvai Mahofa.
The youths allegedly made the accusations at Sen Mahofa’s funeral wake in the plush Rhodene suburb in Masvingo, where they also allegedly made insinuations that Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa fell ill during the Presidential Youth Interface rally held in Gwanda because he consumed some ice cream.
VP Mnangagwa has since cleared the air, saying he never ate ice cream at the rally. Addressing a meeting attended by all war veterans districts chairpersons from Masvingo, together with some members of the ex-freedom fighters provincial executive, war veterans provincial chairperson Cde Tendeukai Chinooneka said those who were peddling falsehoods against the First Family were enemies of Zanu PF.
”As vigilant cadres, we ought to stand firm and resolute in defence of our struggle,” he said. “To be more specific, I am cock sure that we are all aware of the disturbing situation where our province, Masvingo, stands accused of disaafection and disloyalty to the First Family, His Excellency the First Secretary of the ruling Zanu-PF, our Patron, Commander-In-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and sole candidate for our party in the 2018 presidential election,” he said.
”Accordingly, we should make a bold statement to our great visionary, our icon and unparalleled revolutionary leader (President Mugabe) that we, the war veterans of Masvingo province are strongly behind his Excellency and the First Family.”
Cde Chinooneka said war veterans in Masvingo regarded President Mugabe and the Fist Family as sacred, owing to the outstanding work and sacrifices the President and the First Family continued make economically to empower Zimbabweans.
”Comrades and friends, let me register my deep felt anguish over disturbing allegations (that Masvingo is now disloyal to the President and First Family),” he said. “The enormity or gravity of the matter demands that due attention and diligence be exercised to put the matter to rest.
”Whenever rumours spread, there are those waiting for an opportunity to decimate Zanu-PF in this province.”
Cde Chinooneka said war veterans would never fold their hands and watch while Zanu-PF was being destroyed in the province.
He said war veterans in the province subscribed to the princeple of one centre of power in Zanu-PF, saying President Mugabe remained the Zanu-PF leader and torch-bearer, as the ruling party goes for harmonised elections next year.
”We need to make a statement to affirm our loyalty and subordination of all that we say and do to our Patron, President Mugabe,” said Cde Chinooneka. “He alone shall remain our leader. He alone is our one centre of power. He alone is our sole presidential candidate for the 2018 elections. He alone is our tutor and mentor on matters regarding the principles, values and virtues of Zanu-PF.”
The war veterans leader said Zanu-PF was assured of a crushing victory in next year’s elections, with President Mugabe at the helm.
Cde Chinooneka described President Mugabe as a “Great Apostle” who had the capacity to ”anoint” true Zanu-PF cadres into the true spirit of the ruling party philosophy.
”As a faithful and loyal flock, we, the war veterans of Masvingo province should rally behind our patron,” he said. “His person
and his family should remain sacred to us.”
First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe, who is also the secretary for the Zanu-PF Women’s League, last week admonished the ruling party leadership in Masvingo and the Midlands for spreading falsehoods against the First Family.
The Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial leadership has since launched investigations to establish the identity of those spreading the
falsehoods, saying punitive action would be taken against those implicated.
Online Reporter