Fake war vets stormed Biti office
By Staff Reporter
Just as Nehanda Radio reported on Tuesday, the rowdy group of protestors who stormed Finance Minister Tendai Biti’s office this week demanding an increase to the pensions of war veterans are not genuine war veterans after all.
The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association president Jabulani Sibanda has distanced his association from the demonstrations. Sibanda said the protests were carried out by a group of “confused people”.
“I am surprised that they claimed they were under my leadership. This is a misdirected move being carried out by confused people because we are not even aware of that. They are just people who are seeking cheap publicity because their actions show that they are disorganised.
As ZNLWVA, we do not operate that way. At the end of the day, you will discover that not all of them are war veterans. These are the same people who wanted to cause confusion at the Njelele shrines,” he said.
A group of war veterans recently caused controversy when it conducted a cleansing ceremony at the Njelele shrines in Matabeleland South. Sibanda said there was no reason why war veterans should demand salary increments for civil servants.
“We believe someone is sending them to complicate things, but they are tarnishing the name of the association,” he said. However ZNLWVA faction leader Joseph Chinotimba said Sibanda should support the demonstrators.
“The war veterans need a redress of their welfare and this is the right way to go. Those who are saying the war veterans are confused are the ones in that state. The problem with him (Cde Sibanda) is that he is no longer representing the interests of war veterans, but has become a politician.”
Chinotimba said war veterans would continue supporting actions that have to do with improving their livelihoods. “All we want is for Minister Biti to take up the issue with his Cabinet counterparts. We will continue directing our anger at him until our concerns are addressed,” he said.
This year Transport Minister Nicholas Goche and Deputy Minister Patrick Zhuwawo both members of Zanu PF’s Politburo were photographed hugging civil servants who demonstrated outside Parliament a few months ago against Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti.
Meanwhile the MDC-T has issued a statement saying;
“The war veterans are well advised to, instead, question why the Marange diamonds are being looted in broad day light by new black capitalists at the expense of their welfare and every Zimbabwean.
“The war veterans are privy to the goings on at Marange and other diamond mines because some are former employees who were relieved of their duties after demanding transparency.
“Zimbabwe being the military state it has become, it would be interesting to hear if the war veterans were granted police clearance prior to their demonstration. The conspicuous absence of the police which should have been regulating their conduct is also an interesting dimension to this demonstration.
“War veterans are advised that the Ministry of Finance and therefore the Minister, Hon Tendai Biti gets money from revenue collected through economic activities like mining which however does not find its way into the fiscus, but is rather funding Zanu PF’s parallel government.
“The MDC being a pro poor party sympathises with the War Veterans and shares their concerns of wanting to ensure that state resources are shared equally to create a sustainable economy. The Party of Excellence assures war veterans that once in power, their dignity and welfare will be catered for.”
