Mutsvangwa not going anywhere, says Mahiya

Published: 16 November 2018

UNDER-FIRE Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association (ZNLWVA) chairperson Christopher Mutsvangwa will remain as ex-fighters' leader and the decision to recall him can only be implemented if it is ratified by the national executive, spokesperson Douglas Mahiya has said.

Mahiya was reacting to the decision by the Mashonaland West war veterans provincial executive to recall Mutsvangwa.

The province accused Mutsvangwa of making reckless utterances that put the name of the ruling Zanu PF into disrepute and disrespecting President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Mahiya yesterday said Mashonaland West's recommendation would be discussed by the national executive, but as of now, it was wishful thinking that Mutsvangwa was no longer in charge.

"What they (Mashonaland West) made is a recommendation. It will be considered by the national executive in the near future. It can decide to uphold it or throw it away," he said.

"We will wait for the national executive to meet, if ever it is going to."

On Wednesday, ZNLWVA provincial chairperson for Mashonaland West, Cornelius Muwoni, accused Mutsvangwa of causing divisions in the party.

He made the claims after the war veterans' leadership in Mashonaland province met in Chinhoyi on Tuesday and "unanimously" endorsed the decision to have Mutsvangwa recalled.

Muwoni claimed Mutsvangwa was making reckless statements that were dragging the whole association into the mud.

This was after Mutsvangwa last week came out guns blazing attacking command agriculture and Zanu PF benefactor Kudakwashe Tagwirei, accusing him of capturing the State.

But Mahiya said Mashonaland West should have consulted other provinces before reaching such a decision.

He said Mutsvangwa had the right to make his own utterances as an individual and this should not be associated with the association.

Mahiya said there were some forces that were being sponsored to destabilise the war veterans' association, and that the war veterans were aware of such plots and were on the guard.
- newsday