Manicaland war veterans aligned to the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association led by Chris Mutsvangwa this week resolved to engage in dialogue with Minister of Provincial Affairs, Mandi Chimene instead of a confrontational approach.

The ZLWVA provincial executive held its meeting in Mutare on Tuesday which resolved to air their grievances on a roundtable instead of demonstrating on the streets.

Chimene leads a splinter group of war veterans whose local chapter is led by Robert Gumbo.

ZLWVA provincial chairperson, Gift Kagweda, said their meeting had endorsed demonstrations that were held in Mashonaland West, Masvingo and Midlands provinces.

The executive meeting was held amid speculation that war veterans and some members of Zanu-PF provincial Women’s League whose executive meeting was also aborted on the same day had intended to mobilise their members to demonstrate against some leaders in the province.

Kagweda denied ever organising demonstrations in Manicaland.

“It is a rumour. We are not organising any demonstration together with Zanu-PF Women’s League.

“We had a routine provincial executive meeting that agreed on a catalogue of issues to present to Chimene in her ministerial capacity and as a war veteran. We recognise her as a minister in charge of development in the province.

We want to air our concerns about what is happening in the province and hopefully come up with an agreed solution,” said  Kagweda, who was flanked by his deputy, Musendo Sendekera.

Kagweda said one of the sticky issues was the alleged closure of war veterans’ offices by  Chimene.

“That decision has rendered us dysfunctional. We are lagging behind in terms of developmental issues and needs of war veterans. We are operating from the bushes and our cars, and if we fail to come up with a solution, we will look for an alternative place to rent,” said Kagweda.

Kagweda said while war veterans in Manicaland fully endorsed demonstrations held in Mashonaland West, Masvingo and Midlands, they were not mobilising in Manicaland since their patron, President Mugabe has spoken against it.

“We are not an organ of the party, but an affiliate and if women are organising the demonstrations, it is not war veterans.

There is neither a demonstration nor connivance with Zanu-PF Women’s League. President Mugabe spoke about it and as disciplined cadres, we have elected to heed his call and pursue dialogue, which is what we have lined up to do with Chimene.

“We support what happened in Mashonaland West, Midlands and Masvingo, and if President Mugabe had not spoken against it, yes, the demonstrations would have spilled into Manicaland.

We do not want to be seen as defiant people and that is why we are engaging. We are happy because the demonstrations in Masvingo, Midlands and Mashonaland West made the President aware of the shenanigans of those who should be giving him the correct picture on the ground,” said  Kagweda.

However, Sendekera was less diplomatic and had a different opinion.

“I have tried to engage her, but nothing has come out of it. There is nothing to prove that she will listen and take our concerns seriously.

“I have tried to engage her, and it failed, but my colleagues think they can glean a different result. I personally think jumping the gun is the best option,” said Sendekera.

Kagweda insisted that where there is will, there will always be a way.

Chimene said she was prepared to meet her fellow comrades.

“I have never refused to talk to fellow war veterans, I have an open door policy. They should not book for an appointment. They are a priority over anything. I have never engaged war veterans on the negative. They can come to my office anytime and we talk.”.

She laughed off criticism from Sendekera saying it borders on ignorance.

“It is normal to be at the receiving end of criticism because I have a better understanding of situations and people. I do not look at the negative, I look at the positive,” said Chimene. – State Media