I don’t care: Jabulani Sibanda

via I don’t care: Jabulani Sibanda – DailyNews Live 1 November 2014 by Lloyd Mbiba

HARARE – A defiant war veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda said yesterday that he did not care if his detractors ousted him from his position, adding that President Robert Mugabe was being fed lies by Sibanda’s Zanu PF adversaries.

The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWA) chairman told the Daily News in an exclusive interview that he was not losing any sleep over attempts to dethrone him, even as it emerged that his enemies were sharpening their knives against him.

“I don’t care. Let them call for their (war veterans’) congress,” he said of the purported vote of no confidence in him that has allegedly been passed by his fellow comrades and so-called war veteran elders.

“The revolution is bigger and longer than anybody. So it is not about ousting Jabu or not. No matter what they do to me, I am very happy that the people of Zimbabwe know the truth.”

Turning to Thursday’s scathing attack on him by Mugabe, Sibanda emphatically denied all the allegations levelled against him, insisting that Mugabe was being misinformed by malicious elements who wanted to create chaos within the party and take over from him the same way they wanted to do in 2004 during the ill-fated Tsholotsho Coup.

“My response is very simple. I saw the president’s address on ZBC last night and I was very, very happy to see that the president is fit and strong.

“He knows that what he said is not true. But the only thing that made me happy is that I saw that our president is still healthy and strong,” Sibanda said.

The war veterans’ leader added that he was yet to decide on his next move, but was in the meantime seeking a meeting with Mugabe to share thoughts with him.

“I haven’t yet decided what I will do but if given an opportunity I would love to meet the president and tell him the truth,” Sibanda said.

The war veterans’ leader said contrary to the machinations of his party detractors and State media, he was not against Mugabe’s wife, Grace’s ascendancy to high political office.

Mugabe launched a scathing attack on Sibanda in his Thursday diatribe, accusing him of allegedly trying to block his wife’s political aspirations.

Sibanda said: “What are you talking about? I was one of the first people to congratulate the First Lady. I have nothing against her assuming the Women’s League chairperson’s post”.

Turning to allegations peddled by Mugabe that he had received vehicles from Zanu PF Mbire MP, David Butau, Sibanda retorted: “Where are the vehicles? I am a poor man and all those who really know me will testify”.

The venom-spitting Mugabe also accused Sibanda of being possessed by the Devil’s spirit on Thursday, adding, “Arasa gwara chose. (He has lost the way)”.

But Sibanda said this was not true.

The president has also directed that war veterans regroup and choose a new leader who is committed to Zanu PF’s revolutionary ideals.

“Saka Jabulani aakutonga muno munyika? (Can we now say he is the country’s ruler?)” Mugabe asked after accusing Sibanda of blocking supporters from attending the party’s gatherings.

Mugabe was interrupted during his speech by agitated supporters who alleged that Sibanda was not a genuine war veteran.

“Haasi? He is fake?” they shouted.

Mugabe said: “Saka vana (Joseph) Chinotimba makamubvumirei? (So why did you Chinotimba and other war veterans allow him to masquerade as a war veteran?)”

Sibanda has over the past few weeks defiantly refused to be part of Grace’s controversial “Meet-the-People” rallies where the First Lady has demanded the ouster of Vice President Joice Mujuru, for alleged corruption and plotting a coup de tat against her 90-year-old husband.

Sibanda recently vowed that he would have nothing to do with a “bedroom coup”, in apparent reference to fears within and outside Zanu PF that Mugabe was grooming his wife to eventually take over as president.

Meanwhile a group calling itself war veterans’ elders claims that it has deposed Sibanda as ZNLWA chairperson. Addressing a press conference yesterday, the so-called elders said they have expelled Sibanda accusing him of 11 charges of insubordination including threatening to march to State House and denigrating Mugabe.

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