‘We say no to divisive elements’
THE surviving former members of the ZIPRA High Command are against utterances that undermine national peace and security. War veterans are men and women who stood up for the rights of their fellow citizens in Zimbabwe. They took up arms as freedom fighters to liberate the nation from the settler colonial oppression. The current war veterans set up is a configuration of the liberation forces of both ZIPRA and ZANLA outfits. The liberation struggle of Zimbabwe meant that Zimbabweans rule themselves and not be ruled by war veterans. Therefore the statement attributed to Cde Victor Matemadanda by the News Day of 1 June 2016, which said. “All fighters, all those who went to the armed struggle, are in a queue to rule Zimbabwe”, is divorced from the aspirations of real war veterans.
For a leader to lead the people of Zimbabwe, that leader should be chosen by the people of Zimbabwe and not by war veterans alone. It is an aberration by misguided persons that a leader of the country was chosen in a meeting of combatants in Mozambique. In a similar thought process, Cde Parker Chipowera said the leader of the country was ushered by the combatants at Mugagao Declaration of 1975, as quoted by the Daily News of 5 May 2016.
And worse off for Parker Chipowera, how can he withdraw his signature from the Mgagao Document when he moved from the armed struggle before its the end. Let it be known by all Zimbabweans that these statements by the two comrades involve only the former ZANLA forces. ZIPRA forces were not part to these meetings. These comrades speak of resolutions taken by a guerilla camp of combatants as if they were the only force during the liberation struggle and that their meetings’ resolutions were binding on all liberation movements of Zimbabwe. After all, decisions to select a leader are a prerogative of a party congress.
Some leaders of the war veterans fail to understand that the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) comprises two former liberation armies (ZANLA and ZIPRA). It is posited that whenever some of these leaders make decisions or issue statements, they should be sober, demonstrate unity of purpose, knowledge of the organisations’ mandate and mission. They should not use the organisation to pursue personal political ambitions because this may cause divisions and despondency and arouse suspicions. We seek to advise those with political aspirations that they should pursue them not from within the war veterans association. The ZNLWVA leaders should avoid reckless and irresponsible political utterances. These reckless and irresponsible statements are not attributed to the ZNLWVA leaders alone. Some politicians too, have that tendency.
In the Sunday Mail of 8 May 2016, Cde Muzhamba, aka Joseph Khumalo, was also quoted as saying that in 1969, Zanu cadres were moved from Itumbi to Kongwa in Tanzania. He says the intention was to force them as Zanu cadres to join Zapu which was already in Kongwa. He says they resisted this move because Zapu was only organising an army that would be set up in the independent Zimbabwe achieved through negotiations, not war. Such statements are misleading and divisive.
These utterances ignore that two years before 1969, in 1967 Zapu freedom fighters executed a joint military campaign with ANC South Africa’s Umkonto We Sizwe on a frontage that stretched from then Sipolilo to Wankie. This kind of military collaboration by two liberation armies of two different political organisations from two separate countries was unique. The move was admired by all progressive forces the world over. Liberation movements from the same country were finding it difficult to combine forces. Some fighters who participated in these operations are still alive to tell their story. Which Zapu did not want to fight in 1969? To put the record straight, Zapu cadres left Kongwa in 1966 for Morogoro.
This Cde Muzhamba goes on to say, “President Kaunda did not like Zanu at all”. According to him, if Muzhamba were the President of Zimbabwe he would have nothing to do with Zambia. Is Cde Muzhamba aware that Lusaka, Zambia was the headquarters of both Zanu and Zanla until 1975 . . . , where they occupied a rent-free office space at the Liberation Centre in Lusaka? Is he also aware that Cde Chitepo was given a State Funeral by the Republic of Zambia? One wonders whether Cde Muzhamba is reading from the same page of the liberation struggle history with other war veterans.
On another dimension, Cde Matemadanda on 4 June 2016 was quoted saying: “We are simply investing in on our future as Zanla and Mphoko must not interfere because we never interfere in ZIPRA issues” This statement raises a lot of questions, some of which are: How do you restrict the person who is the Vice-President of Zimbabwe not to interfere with issues that concern former ZanlA, a former liberation army that liberated Zimbabwe? How does Cde Matemadanda the person who is the secretary-general of the War Veterans Association (an association of former ZIPRA and Zanla) say he never interferes with issues related to former ZIPRA, another liberation movement that fought side by side with Zanla? Is Cde Matemadanda speaking as a spokesperson for ZNLWVA or as a Zanla spokesman? Incidentally, one wonders where this future investment for Zanla will be, in which the Vice-President has no jurisdiction on issues pertaining to national security. Does this future investment have any room for the former ZIPRA cadres? Maybe, Cde Matemadanda does not know the former ZIPRA very well, which is the case with some people who are not so conversant with the liberation struggle history of our country Zimbabwe.
For a “brief ” on the liberation struggle history for the benefit of Cde Matemadanda and others not so well informed on the liberation struggle, ZIPRA was Zapu’s armed wing that fought side by side with Zanu’s armed wing, Zanla to liberate Zimbabwe. In case Cde Matemadanda does not know, Zapu was part of the Patriotic Front, a combination of the two liberation movements (Zanu and Zapu). Maybe, this was before the secretary-general’s time in the struggle. ZAPU and Zanu united in 1987 to form Zanu-PF. ZIPRA and Zanla came together in 1980 to form the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA). For those who do not know, former Zanla and ZIPRA cadres fought and bled for this country but not to allow fortune seekers to divide them and plunge our country into chaos. Self decorated revolutionaries will be exposed. Anyway, what Zanla’s future is Cde Matemadanda talking about? Where was he in 1980 when the liberation war veterans needed his participation?
Once again it is deemed rude and insubordinate for Cde Matemadanda to query the VicePresident’s position as if he does not accept President Mugabe’s choice of a Deputy.
Referring to the VP’s wife as a Mozambican wife is tantamount to gross insubordination and a total disregard to the sanctity of VP’s marriage. He said, “What is special about Mphoko and his Mozambican wife?” Is he insinuating that Mozambicans are not welcome in Zimbabwe? In all honesty, a bona-fide cadre in the position of Cde Matemadanda, let alone a seasoned freedom fighter would not disrespect those appointed by the Head of State because he is already querying the wisdom of the appointer.
Can someone please educate Comrades Matemadanda, Mahiya and Mutsvangwa that we are no longer in Mozambique but in an independent Zimbabwe and that we have been independent for 36 years. The people of Zimbabwe have been electing their own leaders for the last 36 years. No one else has that mandate. Genuine former ZIPRAs and Zanlas will always jealously defend this mandate.
War Veterans will remain resolute in defending the gains of the liberation struggle and endeavour to unite people of Zimbabwe rather that create unnecessary confusion to the extent of threatening to shed blood. Whose blood are they referring to? Long live the unity of the people of Zimbabwe
Issued by surviving members of the ZIPRA High Command