Source: Zanu PF fissures over zvigananda widen -Newsday Zimbabwe
A STORM is brewing within Zanu PF as war collaborators have circulated a petition defending State Security minister Lovemore Matuke over accusations that he did not participate in the liberation struggle.
The dispute erupted at a Zanu PF politburo meeting in Harare recently after Matuke reportedly accused Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga of harbouring presidential ambitions.
This was after Chiwenga produced a dossier chronicling President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s allies’ corrupt activities.
The VP has been on a war path over businesspeople whom he labelled zvigananda that he accuses of looting from the State using their connections within Zanu PF.
A furious Chiwenga is said to have retaliated by questioning Matuke’s credentials in the liberation war.
This attack has angered a section of war collaborators, which believes it belittles their contributions in the struggle for the country’s independence.
“We write with deep concern regarding recent comments made by some senior leaders of our party, Zanu PF, which disrespect the contributions of war collaborators,” the petition read.
“Specifically we are troubled by remarks at Comrade Matuke, which implied that he never participated in the war effort.
“It is on record that Comrade Matuke, like many others, played a vital role in the liberation of Zimbabwe as a war collaborator.”
They argued that the liberation struggle was “a collective effort.”
“To dismiss the efforts of war collaborators is to undermine the very fabric of our liberation struggle and it is disrespectful at the highest level to imply that individuals like Comrade Matuke did nothing during the war.
“Such statements not only marginalise our contributions but also foster division within the party, which we hold dear.”
“They suggested that the delay in gazetting war collaborators’ names is being done deliberately, as some senior leaders are against them.”
They demanded that the party acknowledges the critical role played by war collaborators.
“The party must instruct the government to speed up the gazetting of war collaborators’ names as their vetting has been completed,” they said.
“As members of Zanu PF, we are all equal and must treat each other with the utmost respect.”
Zanu PF director for information Farai Marapira said the party recognised the efforts of everyone who participated in the war.
“As Zanu PF, we respect all participants of the liberation struggle and anything that is contrary to that is not true.”
Zanu PF is torn apart by factionalism linked to Mnangagwa’s succession.
Controversial politician Temba Mliswa has suggested that businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei is Mnangagwa’s chosen successor, according to leaked audios.
In a leaked phone call recording last week, businessman Agrippa Masiyakurima claimed that Mliswa was given money to lead the anti-Chiwenga campaign, which Mliswa did not deny during the call.
Zanu PF holds its elective congress in 2027 to choose the party’s next leader and presidential candidate in the 2028 elections.
A faction loyal to Mnangagwa is, however, pushing for the postponement of the 2028 elections to 2030.
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