War vets predicts Mugabe downfall

By Blessings Mashaya

Disgruntled War Veterans have predicted the downfall of Zanu PF and President Robert Mugabe in the highly anticipated 2018 general elections.

With the economy in freefall and Mugabe’s government seemingly it of sorts on how to rescue long Zimbabweans analysts have already concluded that 2018 will be a “do or die” for the deeply divided Zanu PF. 

Mugabe’s old age has triggered a fierce succession battle in his party with his hangers-on starkly divided on who should succeed the 92 year old strongman, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980.

War veterans, one the dynamos of Zanu PF were kicked out after declaring support for Mugabe’s deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa who is leading the Team Lacoste faction.

In an Interview with the Daily News on Sunday Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) spokesperson Douglas Mahiya opined that their expulsion from Zanu PF marked the beginning of the end for Zanu PF.

The war veterans, who after being suspended from Zanu PF served divorce papers on Mugabe, were widely regarded as the pillar which kept the nonagenarian leader on the throne as they have always campaigned for Zanu PF markedly during the 2000 and 2008 national elections that were both marred by violence.

“The Zanu PF G40 will end soon, the people of Zimbabwe will reject them, you can fool a person once not all the time, the truth will come in open,” said Mahiya.

The Team Lacoste faction is locked in a succession battle with the generation 40 (G40) camp that is also seeking to ensure that another candidate not Mnangagwa succeeds Mugabe.

Despite the deep divisions, Zanu PF apologists are adamant the ruling party will return power in 2018, citing the long established connections with the military.

“For 2018 they think it may be not be an uphill task for them but what I want to tell them ndezvekuti moto webepa haunonoke kudzima,  zvakamboitika kupi kuti munhu anoenda kuhondo nearmy yake yose ozoromba  varwi vake vahwina hondo vadzoka (G40 will not last. Have you ever seen a commander who reject his troops after winning a war) that leader will be best described as a failure, it’s not normal hazviwaneki pasi rino izvi.

“Currently they don’t see our relevance but they will see our relevance when the time comes, they can do whatever they want but at the end everything will come clear that is where they will see that we are important.”

Apart from having been deserted by the former freedom fighters, Zanu PF is also likely to be faced by a formidable opposition lining former vice president Joice Mujuru and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

In recent months the liberation struggle fighters also said that Mugabe’s continued stay in power is now a stumbling block to the country’s development, adding coldly that the nonagenarian would be “a hard-sell” if he contested the watershed 2018 presidential elections.

“If the president and first secretary of the party do not see the presence of the war veterans as important, what is that? Let the people read between the lines and conclude ngatiregei kuvandirana nekuti Zimbabwe haibudirire tikadaro inoda kuti titaurirane  pachena (We must tell each other the truth so that we develop our country) we are confused on what is currently happening.”

“For as long as war veterans do not think alike there is already a problem, if you went through the process of the revolution you cannot think otherwise if he (Mugabe) is one of us and if he think like that then there is a question mark because they will be other motives he will be trying to achieve.”

Mahiya also took a swipe at Mugabe’s nephew and minister of Youths Patrick Zhuwao, who last week said he will not back Mnangagwa’s presidential bid saying Zimbabweans must rise against “nepotism”.

“Everyone contributed immensely to liberate this country so the cake must be shared equally. The truth will remain Zhuwao belongs to Malawi and we belong to Zimbabwe so he must shut up.

“For the people of Zimbabwe the blood of their children was the greatest sacrifice they made and I am sure they will soon gain total emancipation. The economy can’t grow with corrupt leaders walking freely. Surely with these corrupt politicians we are doomed as a country.”

The former freedom fighters also waded into the current Zanu PF infighting saying the controversial Mashonaland Central resolution calling for the internal elections of vice presidents is meaningless.

“Look if they want the VP to be elected they must first reinstate all the provincial chairpersons who they expelled, we know that Kasukuwere had appointed people who suit his agenda in all provincial structures.

Asked whether they support Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe the ex-combatants said, “we support the constitution, we are disciplined cadres and people must understand the constitution.”

“The likes of Kasukuwere and Moyo must wait for their time. During the war we respected our seniors, now there is no respect in Zanu PF.

“As we always say Kasukuwere is not fit to be the commissar of the party. He is the one who is causing divisions in the party.” Daily News