Nyashadzashe Ndoro
CHIEF REPORTER
The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association is set to hold its elective congress from June 14 to 16.
This follows a joint statement by the Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs, Monica Mavhunga, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, July Moyo, and Secretary for Veterans, Ex-Political Prisoners, Detainees and Restrictees, Douglas Mahiya.
The congress, which was last held in 2013 in Masvingo, is aimed at electing a new leadership for the association, which has been plagued by infighting and factionalism.
The elective congress is in line with the association’s constitutional requirements, and all positions are up for grabs.
According to Mahiya, who is also the Zanu PF Secretary for War Veterans, preparations for the congress are underway, with the ZNLWVA’s executive led by its political commissar, Joel Mureremba, moving across the country informing members about the impending congress.
The joint statement by the ministers and secretary for veterans noted that there are several leadership structures claiming legitimacy using the same name ZNLWVA, which has created confusion.
Therefore, the government has directed that democratic elections be convened from district, province, and national levels to produce a single leadership.
“It has been noted with concern that there are a number of leadership structures claiming legitimacy using the same name, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, PVO Number 1/90. This has created confusion, hence, the need to urgently rectify the situation. In consultation with the then Acting President Hon. Kembo Mohadi, on behalf of the Patron, His Excellency the President, Cde. Dr. Emmerson D. Mnangagwa, we hereby direct as follows:
“a) That democratic elections inclusive of all structures of the ZNLWA led by Comrades Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa, Moffat Marashwa and Andrease Mathibela, be convened from District, Province and National Levels in order to produce a single leadership.
“b) That dates for the elections across the three levels will be communicated in due course and all other arrangements by the separate ZNLWVA groupings are hereby nullified.
“c) That all members of the ZNLWVA should desist from name dropping forthwith,” read part of the notice.
The ZNLWVA was formed to represent the interests of war veterans who fought in the country’s liberation struggle. However, the association has been plagued by infighting and factionalism, with several groups claiming legitimacy.
In a recent interview with the State Media, Mahiya clarified the difference between the War Veterans League and the ZNLWVA, stating that the former is an organ of Zanu PF comprising former liberation fighters, while the latter is an affiliate of the party.
He also stated that the War Veterans League is responsible for mobilising war veterans to participate in socio-economic, political, and cultural issues of the party.
He added that programmes meant to benefit the war veterans were being crafted, including the establishment of a war veterans’ family trust.
According to him, there are about 35 000 surviving war veterans in the country.
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