adminNqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe National War Veterans Association’s (ZNWVA) Bulawayo provincial chairman, Cde Cephas Ncube, has taken a swipe at the freedom fighters’ national council of elders member, Cde George Mlala, for allegedly meddling in his executive’s affairs. Addressing war veterans yesterday at a District 11 meeting in Nketa 6 suburb, Cde Ncube said Cde Mlala was trying to usurp his powers. He described the council of elders member as a “loser who should just shut up”.
Cde Ncube advised Cde Mlala to wait for the 2018 elections if he wanted to take up leadership of the freedom fighters association in Bulawayo. “On Friday I was invited for a crisis meeting by a group led by Cde Mlala and others. They said I should bring five of my executive members but we didn’t attend. We don’t want to associate with them. If they want to be involved in leadership they should wait for 2018 elections,” Cde Ncube said.
The war veterans in Bulawayo recently elected their provincial leadership and endorsed Cde Ncube as their leader. However, they have faced opposition from Cde Mlala and his lieutenants who said the new leadership has “gamatox elements” as some of their members were followers of expelled former war veterans national chairman, Jabulani Sibanda.
Cde Ncube said Cde Mlala was leading a misguided group. Meanwhile, the secretary for District 11, Cde Jange Chimeri, said the association was having challenges dealing with some freedom fighters who were not members but wanted to be assisted by the association.
Cde Chimeri said the non-members wanted to benefit from the liberation heroes funeral fund among other benefits. “They don’t tell their families the truth. They don’t want to pay subscriptions but when it comes to the funeral fund they want to benefit. “How can we assist you when you’re not part of us,” he said.
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