War Veterans urge Zanu PF to expel Grace Mugabe
By Gibbs Dube
Zimbabwe’s liberation war veterans of the 1970s say First Lady Grace Mugabe should be expelled from Zanu PF following her remarks that President Robert Mugabe needs to name a successor in order to end factionalism ravaging the ruling party.
The angry war veterans told journalists in Harare on Friday that Mrs. Mugabe’s utterances were treasonous and as a result she should be expelled from Zanu PF.
Secretary general Victor Matematanda of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association said they won’t allow Mrs. Mugabe and her husband to create a political dynasty in Zimbabwe.
“Mrs. Mugabe must know that the final word about some of these issues cannot be determined by Mugabe … It can’t (happen that way). She must not think that for us to say VaMugabe means he is an elderly person and he cannot decide for millions and you become happy that my husband can do it. No. We can’t allow this … So, people of Zimbabwe you will vote for a person of your choice and in Zanu PF the same will happen. If Grace Mugabe is not expelled and then she has to kill us.
Matematanda said war veterans have been harassed for highlighting that a dynasty is being created.
“It will never happen because it is morally wrong, constitutionally wrong, and legally wrong. It is unacceptable.”
He noted that indications are that Mrs. Mugabe is working with a faction of the party being spearheaded by Higher Education Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo with the full knowledge of the president.
He said as a result it seems as if the succession issue being raised by Mrs. Mugabe is President Mugabe’s project, which needs to be stopped by all means necessary.
The war veterans are backing Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who allegedly leads a faction known as Team Lacoste. Mrs. Mugabe allegedly leads a faction well-known as Generation 40 or G40.
Mnangagwa and the first lady are said to be harboring presidential ambitions though they have over the years denied it. VOA Zimbabwe
