War vets distance themselves from demontrations at Biti’s offices

“I am surprised that they claimed they were under my leadership,” he said. “This is a misdirected move being carried out by confused people because we are not even aware of that.

“They are just people who are seeking cheap publicity because their actions show that they are disorganised. As ZNLWVA, we do not operate that way.”
Hundreds of former liberation fighters drawn from various provinces countrywide stormed Minister Biti’s offices on Tuesday, accusing him of incompetence and presiding over the demise of the economy.

They wanted their monthly pension payouts to be reviewed upwards and called for the immediate resignation of Minister Biti.
Cde Sibanda said some of the people in that group were masquerading as former liberation fighters.
“At the end of the day, you will discover that not all of them are war veterans. These are the same people who wanted to cause confusion at the Njelele shrines,” he said.

A group of war veterans recently caused controversy when it conducted a cleansing ceremony at the Njelele shrines in Matabeleland South.
Minister Biti has since scoffed at the war veterans’ demands describing the demonstrations as “predatory behaviour”.
Cde Sibanda said there was no reason why war veterans should demand salary increments for civil servants.

“We believe someone is sending them to complicate things, but they are tarnishing the name of the association,” he said.
War veterans are getting US$130 as a monthly pension payout, while the poverty datum line is pegged at US$596.
A ZNLWVA faction leader Cde Joseph Chinotimba said Cde Sibanda should support the demonstrators.
“The war veterans need a redress of their welfare and this is the right way to go,” he said. “Those who are saying the war veterans are confused are the ones in that state.

“The problem with him (Cde Sibanda) is that he is no longer representing the interests of war veterans, but has become a politician.”
Cde Chinotimba said war veterans would continue supporting actions that have to do with improving their livelihoods.

“All we want is for Minister Biti to take up the issue with his Cabinet counterparts. We will continue directing our anger at him until our concerns are addressed,” he said.

But Minister Biti said he could not meet the demands of the war veterans.
Various sectors accuse Finance Minister Biti of failing to prioritise allocation of resources.