Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) members have removed Christopher Mutsvangwa from his position as the chairman of the organisation.
War veterans accuse Mutsvangwa of unprofessionalism and failure to improve their livelihoods.
Addressing journalists in Harare on Wednesday, the ex-combatants said they have appointed a National Interim Committee with the Government’s blessing.
The interim committee’s vice chair, Ethan Matibela said the last ZNLWVA elective congress was held 10 years ago and Mutsvangwa’s tenure lapsed several years ago. Said Matibela:
<blockquote>
The Association’s constitution dictates that the organization should be run and operated by an elected national executive whose mandate would last for five years and thereafter, an elective congress would be conducted.
On several occasions, the association has experienced a gross disregard for its constitutional processes, chief among them, the lack of professionalism, no functioning systems in place, undue interference, lack of accountability and no clear programmes to embark on during the life of the sitting committee.
</blockquote>
He added that the majority of war veterans are without access to basic healthcare services, a decent living pension and no decent accommodation.
Matibela applauded the late former chairperson Chengerai Hunzvi for pushing the Government to give war veterans a $50 000 gratuity each in the late 1990s. He said:
<blockquote>
After this payment, the association suffered as management diverged from the core business of the private voluntary organisation’s welfare.
The ministry advised us to create a National Interim Committee to resuscitate the association by preparing an elective congress upon which a fresh mandate will be given to a new national executive to run the affairs of the association for the next five years.
</blockquote>
Speaking to <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/war-vets-feud-zanu-pfs-mutsvangwa-ousted-for-lack-of-accountability-unprofessionalism/">NewZimbabwe.com,</a> Mutsvangwa said it was wrong for war veterans to wash their dirty linen in public. He said:
<blockquote>
I never feuded with my fellow war veterans during and after the liberation war. I am not going to feud with them now.
This is unbecoming for war veterans to feud in the public domain. I will never comment on what they are saying.
</blockquote>
The ZNLWVA was founded in 1990 to represent the interests of war veterans. It has been involved in various activities over the years, including advocating for better benefits for war veterans and supporting and speaking out against perceived injustices.
However, critics say ZNLWVA has become too closely aligned with ZANU PF and that its leaders have used their position to promote their own interests rather than those of all war veterans.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

War Veterans Oust Christopher Mutsvangwa

Veterans of the liberation war have expressed concern over delays by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to hasten the exhumation and reburial of victims who are still buried in mass graves across the country.
This comes barely a week after a group of ex-combatants berated Mnangagwa for failing to take their welfare seriously.
In a statement issued on Saturday, former freedom fighters accused Mnangagwa of failing to honour them. The statement, issued by the Mashonaland West provincial war veterans leadership, read:
<blockquote>
We are deeply concerned that some of our late fighters are still yet to be reburied. Hurungwe liberation war veterans resolved that every effort be made for the exhumation and reburial, with commensurate honours, of the departed heroes of the Second Chimurenga who met their deaths in Hurungwe district, Mashonaland West province, and that the process be accelerated.
The veterans, to realise this goal, call upon all veterans in the district to contribute towards a fund to be established for this purpose, and for all who have information of burial sites’ locations to make some available to Veterans of the Liberation Struggle through the party administration offices in Karoi.
The veterans arrived at this resolution following recognition that efforts made towards honouring the departed heroes over the past 41 years of independence have been half-hearted and uncoordinated, displaying a lack of commitment from both the party and government.
</blockquote>
They also applauded the efforts of the Fallen Heroes Trust, which has made it possible to exhume and re-bury those that have been found around the country.
They criticised the ruling ZANU PF and government for failing or neglecting the task of exhumation and reburial of their colleagues leaving the task in the hands of living veterans.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/09/mnangagwa-faces-fresh-war-vets-onslaught/">NewsDay</a>

War Veterans Concerned Over Delays In Reburying Late Fighters

Construction of the $500 000 Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association complex in Sanyati has begun. The complex being constructed as part of initiatives by war veterans will incorporate the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology, which trains Zanu-PF members on the party’s ideals.
Bulldozers are already clearing the site while construction is already underway, with the ground breaking ceremony scheduled for July 1. Speaking to The Herald during a tour of the site recently, ZNLWVA Mashonaland West provincial secretary for projects Felix Dube said the construction was progressing well.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/work-begins-on-war-vets-complex/">Herald</a>

War Veterans Building $500 000 Complex In Sanyati

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWA) secretary general Victor Matemadanda confirmed the meeting involving President Mnangagwa, war veterans, war collaborators and ex-detainees. The meeting will be held at the City Sports Centre in Harare and is meant to discuss the welfare of war veterans, war collaborators and ex-detainees and ways of strengthening Zanu-PF ahead of harmonised elections this year.
Matemadanda said his colleagues want their monthly payouts to be increased. Said Matemadanda:
<blockquote>Comrades understand our economic situation but they know we now have a listening President who can take measures and make some adjustments, where possible, to accommodate the wishes of the war veterans. They need their monthly payouts to be adjusted so that their livelihoods improve.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://www.chronicle.co.zw/ed-war-veterans-to-meet/">Chronicle</a>

Mnangagwa To Meet War Veterans In Preparation For Elections

The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) has launched a spirited defence of under fire Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa by saying an attack on the vice president was an attack on all var veterans. Mnangagwa was recently relieved of his post as Minister of Justice by President Mugabe in a cabinet reshuffle on Monday. The war veterans  have fallen out of favour with Mugabe since they started agitating for Mnangagwa to takeover as president.  The war veterans held a press conference to respond to the reshuffle. ZNLWVA Secretary General, Victor Matemadanda, said:
<blockquote>The attacks on Vice President Mnangagwa and Cde Tshinga Dube are not just directed to the two but are aimed at the totality of war veterans. We know they will also try to disturb the army structures but they cannot disturb the history that we created.
When President Mugabe says war veterans or freedom fighters who are still serving in the army have no role in Zanu PF I would not say he is lying; but that he has forgotten what we agreed that the gun shall free the people and guard the vote.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://newzimbabwe.com/news-39531-Mugabes+dont+own+Zanu+PF+War+vets/news.aspx" rel="noopener" target="_blank">New Zimbabwe</a>

When you attack Mnangagwa, you attack all war veterans : ZNLWVA

Addressing a press conference at the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) Bulawayo provincial offices in Entumbane, the organisation’s national vice chairman, Headman Moyo denied reports that they are forming a political party and said that they remain loyal to Zanu-PF.
Said Moyo:
<blockquote>We want to disassociate ourselves from recent media reports that we want to form a political party. We disown the statement that came out making those claims. We as ZNLWVA, we fought and agreed to the unity which was signed by our two fathers ubaba u (Dr Joshua) Nkomo lobaba u (President) Mugabe so we will remain within Zanu-PF. We called you here so that we meet as leaders and show direction. We last had a meeting in February and waited for another in April like we did last year, we will meet our President for our great Indaba and we are still waiting because he promised that we will meet every year. We wanted to make our position very clear that we are not in any way involved in the formation of the party being talked about.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://www.chronicle.co.zw/war-veterans-not-forming-political-party/">Chronicle</a>

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