Zimbabwe’s National Liberation War Veterans Association chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa has condemned the ongoing arrests of war veterans as government intensified its crackdown on suspected authors of last week’s damning communiqué calling on President Robert Mugabe to step down.
NewsDay reports that the association’s secretary-general Victor Matemadanda was picked up in Gokwe as police frantically battled to have the association’s spokesperson Douglas Mahiya charged with seeking to subvert a constitutionally-elected government and insulting Mugabe.
Mutsvangwa, who has been removed as war vets minister and expelled from Zanu PF, said instead of cracking down on war veterans Mugabe should arrest corrupt officials, including ministers adding that the president’s misplaced priorities, as evidenced by the crackdown on war veterans instead of dealing with people who loot public funds, had resulted in the economy collapsing.
“I condemn the arrest of my executive members. This comes in the wake of a mob justice type rally addressed by President Robert Mugabe yesterday (Wednesday),” said Mutsvangwa. “This high-handed over-reaction is surely uncalled for. Even the worst architects of the Rhodesian racist terror that led to genocide of thousands never got as much as this treatment after our independence.”
Spokesperson Mahiya is set to appear in court on Friday, while Matemadanda’s whereabouts could not be readily established on Thursday night. His mobile phone continuously went unanswered, while police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba could not be reached for comment as she was said to be in a meeting.
Last week, the war veterans released a statement describing Mugabe as a failed authoritarian leader who had abandoned ideals of the liberation struggle and ruined the economy. They demanded he should step down and also announced they had withdrawn their support for him.
“I call upon the President as Head of State to stop forthwith the police action and the persecution of my comrades. As a fellow revolutionary and renowned statesman, why is he allowing such treatment of comrades who as young men sacrificed all they had including offering their life so freedom could be attained?” Mutsvangwa said.
“As ministers, the G40 likes of Samuel Undenge plunder the public funds at will. No wonder Zimbabwe is now in economic ruin,” he said. “I appeal to the president: Can’t we just get our national priorities right? Surely an announced withdrawal of political support by my executive colleagues, no matter how wounding to historical pride, cannot be grounds for such over-reaction.”
Mahiya’s lawyer, Harrison Nkomo, said the State was shifting goalposts as regards the charges against his client.
“We have been able to see Mahiya, but have no idea where Matemadanda is. It is difficult to tell the charges because they are constantly changing,” Nkomo said.
Liberation war hero and former Attorney-General Sobusa Gula-Ndebele said he was ready to offer legal assistance.
“I stand ready to help them. Only that I have not been briefed,” Gula-Ndebele told NewsDay.
