Upenyu Chaota
MASVINGO – War Veterans have gone into hibernation despite rising tension in the country and protests against their patron President Robert Mugabe saying they are yet to determine whether they should defend the nonagenarian or support protesters.
War Veterans played a significant role in squashing previous protests like the 2003 ‘Final Push’ but have now adopted a middle of the road approach as the nation revolts against ‘the revolution’.
The veterans’ spokesperson, Douglas Mahiya said ‘the revolution’ was under threat and they were consulting members as they do not want to intervene merely to help Mugabe.
“Right now our position is to just watch and let events unfold. If Mugabe needs us to help, he knows where to find us. The mere fact that he has not engaged us means he has not felt the heat yet,” he said.
“Our mandate is to defend the revolution when it comes under threat. We are the military wing of the revolution but with the events which happened of late, we cannot just catapult ourselves to Mugabe’s rescue. We are carrying out meetings with our structures at all levels so that we can all agree on the way forward,” said Mahiya.
He also said he could not pre-empt everything but more information will be availed after the meetings have been completed.
In Masvingo, war veterans are being unsettled by a faction which allegedly wants to create a splinter group within the war veterans’ structures.
Provincial war veterans’ chairperson, Tendeukai Chinooneka said there are meetings which are being held by some war veterans with a specific mandate to create a splinter group within the organisation.
“I was told that there was a meeting which was held on Sunday at Flamboyant Hotel by war veterans but I was not even notified. They want to create a splinter group within the organisation.
“I was told the people who chaired the meeting came from Harare,” said Chinooneka.news
