Own Correspondent|The current in-fighting within the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZLWVA) is likely to destabilise the ruling ZANU PF party as war veterans claim to be the heartbeat of national politics.
Inside sources within the ZNLWA told this publication that the war veterans leadership insists that their constituency is sensitive and their influence dictates the pace in day to day politics and they can set the direction of the politics in the country.
“A storm is brewing in Zanu PF as war veterans are divided in groups which might eventually divide the party leadership,” said the source.
“There is a big crisis now and the national executive council is supposed to meet soon and come up with a position as to where we are headed.
“It is without doubt that this crisis will spill into a political crisis and war vets are trying to protect the nation from a full blown crisis,”added the source.
The in-fighting within the war veterans body reached a tipping point on Wednesday when the Mashonaland West provincial council resolved to recall the chairman Christopher Mutsvangwa whom they accused of being divisive, self-centred and putting the name of the organisation into disrepute among a litany of allegations. On Thursday Mashonaland East provincial council endorsed Mutsvangwa’s recall.
This invited a different opinion from the organisation’s national spokesperson Douglas Mahiya who described the resolution as ‘wishful thinking’.
When contacted for comment, Mutsvangwa refused to comment citing that he was under the weather.
“I am not well, I know you want to do your job but at least understand that people can be sick.
“I think you have also not been well at sometime in your life,” he said.
Mahiya also refused to comment on the current issues at this juncture.
Political analysts who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity said the divisions in ZNLWVA were symptomatic of the divisions within the ZANU PF leadership.
“You see what is happening here is a tell tell sign that each of the war veterans faction is backing a certain side within the presidium.
“The Mash West chapter clearly accused Mutsvangwa of disrespecting President Mnangagwa by his utterances in which he disagreed with the Command Agriculture programme which is generally believed to be Mnangagwa’s brainchild. Mahiya then comes in and defends Mutsvangwa which means he is also technically denouncing Command Agriculture programme and its architect. There is a storm brewing and the relevant ministry must intervene forthwith and douse the fire,” said a political commentator who preferred anonymity.
“Mutsvangwa seems to be playing the role of kingmaker,” he added
ZANU PF has however previously put it on record that there was no animosity within the presidium as widely speculated.