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Joseph Madzimure Senior Reporter
ACCREDITATION of delegates expected to attend the historical Zanu PF War Veterans League conference started in earnest yesterday across the country’s 10 provinces.
The inaugural elective conference will be held under the theme: “The past, power of the present and inspiration of the future” from September 9 to 10, with 40 positions up for grabs.
The Herald news crew witnessed delegates being accredited at the Zanu PF headquarters in Harare yesterday.
There was excitement among the war veterans who were waiting for their turn to get accredited.
Zanu PF secretary for war veterans Cde Douglas Mahiya said accreditation of delegates was being done at the provincial level across the country.
“There is excitement among the war veterans in that they are just to witness history being made by the people of Zimbabwe through the able leadership President Mnangagwa,” he said.
“They are committed to remain loyal to the party.”
Cde Mahiya said war veterans were very attached to the revolutionary party.
“Reports that I am receiving from provinces is that war veterans are so attached to the party more than ever before because of what has been offered by the party leadership,” he said.
“It allows them be able to defend the legacy and also justify the party’s commitment and activities currently and the future that Zanu PF is going to deliver to the people of Zimbabwe.”
War veterans, Cde Mahiya, said were the remainder of those that perished as human sacrifice for the country to be independent.
An ecstatic female ex-combatant, Cde Elizabeth Chikwerekwere who hails from Mashonaland Central, but was in Harare where she was told to accredit in her province, said they were excited to be part of the conference after 42 years of independence.
“We have been finally recognised as a wing of the party,” she said. “We are now part of the revolutionary party.”
Cde Charles Gawu said the recognition of the war veterans as a wing of the party was a move in the right direction.
He said the party realised that there was an important wing which had been left out.
“We are happy, we have been waiting for this momentous event for quite a long time,” said Cde Gawu. “War veterans have been left out for more than 40 years, now we thank the President for introducing the War Veterans League.
“They are the backbone of the ruling party. When one went to war sacrificing to liberate the country, they need to be recognised.”
Cde Gamuchirai Mareka commended President Mnangagwa for recognising the importance of the war veterans wing in the party.
“We are now open to discuss party business with other wings of the party. We want to contribute immensely towards the development of the country,” said Cde Mareka.
“All over the world, political parties are sustained and glued together by ideology.”
The conference is a historic occasion whose essence is to realign and reconnect Zanu PF with its foundational ideological ethos that have thus far sustained it.
At least 3 500 delegates are expected to grace the war veterans inaugural conference.
Foreign delegates from sister revolutionary parties such as South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) of Namibia, Chama Cha Mapinduzi of Tanzania, Frelimo of Mozambique, African National Congress of South Africa, Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), Malawi Congress Party, Communist Party of China, Russian Conservative Political Party will attend the conference.
Online Reporter