War vets to march in support of Mugabe

By Tererai Karimakwenda
28 August, 2007

The group of war veterans under self-styled leader Joseph Chinotimba have announced that they will march in Harare on Wednesday to show their support for Robert Mugabe and his policies. The controversial Chinotimba, who led the chaotic and violent farm invasions in 2000 is vice president of the National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA). He has been accused of leading a group of “fake” war veterans who were born after Independence and are being used by the ruling party to intimidate and assault the opposition and civil groups in the country.

The AFP news site quotes Chinotimba as saying: "We, as war veterans, do not know any other leader besides President Mugabe. The solidarity march will be a seal of his policies as he has done everything for this country. Full stop.” Mugabe’s policies have been blamed for destroying the country’s economy and the entire social structure of the country, as human rights abuses continue unchecked and are supported and perpetrated by the government. The monthly payouts awarded to war veterans in 1997, along with Mugabe’s military support in the DRC, also signalled the beginning of the end for Zimbabwe’s economy.

Reacting to news of the planned march, Max Mkandla, co-founder of the Zimbabwe Liberators Peace Initiative, said the war veterans under Chinotimba and ZANU-PF can march all they want, but their political support is foolish. He said: “As soldiers we don’t want to be seen to be sympathising with political parties. A soldier always remains with the people. There is no point in Chinotimba calling all the war veterans to go to Harare to march in solidarity of Robert Mugabe. He is the president of ZANU-PF and first secretary of ZANU-PF.”

Mkandla also blasted Chinotimba for supporting Mugabe’s policies. He said: “We don’t support barbaric sort of actions or policies which are totally against the aims and objectives of the armed struggle. We can’t be sympathising with such leaders. We are actually sympathising with pro-democracy forces of this country, the policies of proper land re-distribution, and not the violent and pathetic type.”

Mkandla also pointed to the violence that has been perpetrated by Chinotimba’s war veterans during elections, and the impunity that they have enjoyed. He said: “In fact this so-called group of Chinotimba, they are actually celebrating that they killed so many people right from 1980 up to today. They are celebrating that they are actually not behind bars. They seem to be above the law.”