Mutsvangwa backed by nine Prov chairmen

via Mutsvangwa backed by nine Prov chairmen – NewZimbabwe 15/02/2016

UNDERFIRE war veterans minister Chris Mutsvangwa received a huge boost Monday after he was backed by nine provincial chairmen of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA).

Mutsvangwa and the ZNLWVA leadership we sacked last week by members linked to the G40 Zanu PF faction which backs First Lady Grace Mugabe against vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa.

But the ZNLWVA held its national executive meeting in Harare Monday where nine provinces threw their weight behind Mutsvangwa.

The association’s Mashonaland Central provincial chairperson did not attend the meeting.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Mutsvangwa said his suspension which was announced by Manicaland provincial minister Mandi Chimene had been rejected by the national association.

He, again, launched attacks against G40 ministers Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere as well as ruling party legislator Sarah Mahoka who criticized Mnangagwa at last week’s politburo gathering in the capital.

Mutsvangwa said during the politburo meeting, Moyo and Kasukuwere were given an opportunity to air their grievances but the two spent the time supporting Mahoka.

“The two spoke at length accusing me of messing things up in the party and praising chimukadzi change chataura panze (praising Sarah Mahoka) who does not have any respect for the leadership of the party,” said the war veterans’ leader.

“I also spoke and exposed the shenanigans of these two people and chronicled their mischief starting from way back supported by detailed data and pictures.

“The President said okay, ‘I have heard it all’ and showed his mercy to some people who did not have the support of the politburo members.”

Mutsvangwa added that Mugabe then said that ‘as you leave this meeting, I call for unity for the benefit of the party’.

“But surprisingly hours after the Politburo meeting, a rally was called in a rural area, ignoring the capital city environs.

“There, they came up with stupid resolutions, supported by wayward members.”

He warned liberation fighters to be wary of the ruling party’s “traditional enemies and regime change merchants” who were now “coming in different colours” and further mocked Moyo and Kasukuwere.

“Today they have now recruited these two members; one a young man and the other one who was at Mgagao but later ran away from the liberation war.

“And all these days he (the war deserter) has been denying that he was there but later admitted after I exposed him. He now claims that he ran away because he was being abused.

“No! You were being beaten because you were a spy and comrades wanted to know your position in the struggle.”

Mutsvangwa said, as an executive, they would not pass a “vote of no confidence” against minister Chimene and her supporters “as they have left ZNLWVA of their own accord and its within their rights to form their own break away association”.