The internal power struggles between ZANU PF and war veterans were exposed during Independence Day celebrations in Bindura according to a report.
The Mashonaland Central provincial war veterans chairperson, Sam Parirenyatwa was blocked from taking a seat at the high table by security details.
The bad blood between the two camps was worsened a couple of weeks ago when the party’s national commissar, Engelbert Rugeje, who is also a war veteran issued a circular directing that the war veterans occupy commissariat positions throughout the party structures.
At one point the restive ex-combatants threatened to picket against top Zanu PF officials that include Obert Mpofu, Patrick Chinamasa and David Parirenyatwa working full time at the party’s headquarters.
An official who spoke to Newsday on condition of anonymity had this to say:
As proceedings were kicking off, someone announced that a certain vehicle had its lights on and the driver was supposed to attend to the problem immediately. The vehicle belonged to Parirenyatwa, who was already at the high table.
He went on to attend to the vehicle, but when he returned he was stopped from getting on to the high-table by suspected Central Intelligence Organisation operatives. He tried to reason but was told he was unfit to be among the provincial leaders.
This didn’t go down well with him and other war veterans. They confronted the operatives who clearly disclosed that they were acting on orders from their bosses who were working with the Zanu PF provincial executive.
An altercation ensued in full glare of those who were close and in no time, some of the war veterans started shouting that they were not going to take the matter lightly. Although people didn’t expect it, they left the celebrations, leaving those at the high table hugely embarrassed.
Related:
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War Vets Call For Unity Against The “Enemy”
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Divisions Rock War Veterans – Report
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War Veterans’ Demands Could Further Divide ZANU PF – Report