WAR veterans have reacted angrily to what they called Zanu PF’s belittling of female combatants of the country’s liberation war following State media “exposés” of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s alleged sexcapades during the war.
Source: Mutsvangwa springs to Mujuru’s defence – NewsDay Zimbabwe August 24, 2016
BY RICHARD CHIDZA
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa (pictured) yesterday sprang to Mujuru’s defence, saying she remained an inspiration to all freedom fighters.
“The war was not a nunnery. Joice Mujuru is a fully-fledged war veteran, a fighter and a leading woman combatant. She trained the critical mass of cadres who defeated Ian Smith’s Rhodesian army in the four short years following the resumption of war in 1976. She was among 10 specially-trained cadres who met thousands of new recruits at the Zhunda Camp outside Chimoio, Mozambique, in 1975,” Mutsvangwa said.
Mutsvangwa said, instead, it was President Robert Mugabe who benefited from Mujuru’s efforts.
“None other than war rookie Robert Mugabe benefited from Joice Mujuru, the trained cadre at Zhunda Camp. She will remain an inspiration in her own right well beyond those who glory in that which is accidentally bestowed by marriage certificates. Such reactionary apostasy will come to naught.”
Mutsvangwa accused unnamed people in Zanu PF of seeking to revise the history of the liberation struggle and the role played by female combatants during the armed struggle.
“It is abhorrent historical revisionism. Tichaona Freedom Nyamubaya and many brave women combatants would take the gravest offence to this desecration of their valiant sacrifice,” Mutsvangwa said. “Incidentally, I first heard such blasphemy right in the Zanu PF politburo. Sadly, no one bothered to dress down the source of such utterances.”
Mujuru, who was axed from Zanu PF last year, reportedly trained the likes of Mutsvangwa, national heroes Willard Zororo Duri and John Mayowe, ex-Attorney General Sobusa Gula-Ndebele, Office of the President and Cabinet deputy secretary Justin Mupamhanga, field combat casualty Neville Dembetembe and paediatrician Masimba Mwazha, according to the war veterans’ chairman.
ZNLWVA secretary-general Victor Matemadanda weighed in, saying the allegations about Mujuru’s “lack of integrity” also reflected badly on those who appointed her.
“If Mujuru was fake, then Zimbabweans must begin to ask tough questions about the calibre of the appointing authority. Mujuru did not appoint herself to Cabinet, the Zanu PF politburo or all other positions she held over the 34 years she was part of government and the ruling party,” Matemadanda said.
“It has become fashionable for those in Zanu PF to speak ill of every person when they are either expelled or when they decide to leave the party.”
Matemadanda said Mujuru had been allowed to act as President on numerous instances in her 10 years as Vice-President.
“What does this say about her principal? Why did they allow her access to State power? Zimbabweans must ask these questions and demand answers. Is it because those who appointed her are naïve, not fit for office or are they also fake? Those throwing mud at her must remember everyone has a private life and people also know the things they have done. Mujuru has a family and deserves to be treated as a human being,” Matemadanda said.
Both Mutsvangwa and Matemadanda were recently fired from Zanu PF alongside several other top war veteran leaders on allegations of indiscpline.
The State media has begun a smear campaign against Mujuru amid claims she was no more than a concubine during the liberation struggle despite historical evidence that she was the inaugural leader of the Zanu women’s league in the late 70s.
COMMENTS
I don’t think anyone “defeated the Rhodesian army” at any time. I think the Rhodesians capitulated due to a combination of world sanctions, economic stress, and shortage of manpower – nothing else. Rambo Mugabe and his heroic cohorts are a bit of a myth.
This Mutsvangwa fellow is not consistent. He was at the forefront in attacking Teurai Ropa Joice Mujuru during the Grace days.He now turns around. People should not be fooled. This man is not a leader. He disgracefully defamed a genuine hero of our struggle for self rule, democracy, one man one vote, equal opportunities regardless of race, tribe, gender, place of origin and background. He belongs to a faction of ZANU that is against all the struggle represented. Not that the G40 faction has anything to offer. Amai dr Mujuru in coalition with other opposition leaders will take us to freedom of expression, rule of law, one man one vote, democracy, job creation, non discrimination, unity, food security, affordable quality education, good infrustructure, equitable resource distribution, peace and reconcilliation and all that the struggle against the white regime meant. The apologetic factionalists will not be the answer to the future that Zimbabweans are building. A future with no Gukurahundi, murambatsvina and with no Nikuved elections. A future where the best leads. I did not say rules but leads.
If these so called war heroes with marvelous credentials ‘trained’ all these 1000’s of povo, how come, they are all incapable and clueless 40 years on today of let alone running a camp, god forbid a nation.
The were and are just a rag time bunch of bandits and will remain clueless, will always be clueless wondering around scratching their heads after one failure after another. One would have thought that after 36 years of ‘freedom’, some acumen and direction would have entered into the brain cells!
These people are living in a false sense of reality believing they liberated the country – to what – ruin and destruction.
There is no hope for this mind set whilst they are in place then i suppose starving is worth liberation!
Let’s respect everyone views as they are not solutions. Zimbabwe leadership must know that they are our employees no fit u have to get fired. Please we don’t need a second force to know that you are hungry. Please don’t fight with your employers don’t beat your employers it’s a shame to all of you
In 1981 I went on a border patrol with a platoon of “War Hero’s” from 33Inf. Brigade. We were due to move out of our overnight camp site at first light but overslept as the guard rosta had collapsed during the night. At 8am we were still not ready to move and I well remember the Sergeant Major shouting “You lot don’t need a Sergeant Major, you need a Matron.” May be Joyce was the “Matron” they needed.