Foreign Affairs deputy minister Christopher Mutsvangwa is the new chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War veterans Association after he was nominated unopposed at the body’s extraordinary congress yesterday.
He takes over from Jabulani Sibanda who was expelled by a committee of the association’s elders last month.
Buhera South legislator Joseph Chinotimba did not contest as he is in the body of elders of the association.
Robert Ncube is the new national treasurer after he was nominated unopposed for the post.
Mutsvangwa’s election is another step by the faction led by Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa which is tussling with a rival group led by Vice-President Joice Mujuru.
Mutsvangwa’s cellphone number was unavailable last night. But the Norton legislator told NewsDay on Friday that serving the war veterans was an honour he would not turn down.
“I can’t ever say no to serving in any role fellow war veterans may desire of me. It’s an honour to living survivors of war veteran and homage to the dead ones,” he said.
“It’s [leading war veterans] something I take seriously than any other assignment.”
The path seemed to have been cleared for Mutsvangwa when Sanyati legislator Blessed Runesu Geza, who was seconded by war veterans from Mashonaland West and other provinces to fill in the chairmanship post, backed down and threw his weight behind Mutsvangwa.
War veterans last had congress in 2003. Over the years they have been instrumental in ensuring that Zanu PF wins elections. Zimbabwe Standard
