The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) says the government should desist from threatening its people and accusing them of carrying out subversive activities.
Responding to questions at the Bulawayo Media Centre on Friday, ZNLWVA chairperson Andreas Ethan Mathibela said the government must stop making “idle threats” against its people but instead, address the issues that are causing citizens to voice their discontent.
Mathibela’s remarks came after the Ministry of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere, who was the acting Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, on Friday threatened people engaging in “subversive activities” that “their days are numbered.”
Muswere accused the opposition, some politicians, and certain Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) of attempting to “instigate anarchy and despondency.”
However, Mathibela said the government should deal with national issues rather than threaten imaginary enemies. He said (via CITE):
We must deal with national issues. A security threat comes as a result of an uneven playing field by the government, where it partially accepts some and admits others as friends while deeming others as enemies.
As long as there’s that kind of subtle division, unity of purpose will not prevail.
Mathibela said war veterans are not doing anything subversive by demanding accountability from the government. He said:
Whatever we are doing is open. We invite all, including the security cluster, to attend our meetings because the agenda will be very clear. I trained for many years in security, I know the definition of subversion.
For someone who is not pleased, someone who feels threatened, he or she will deem challenges as subversive. I think that is a misnomer.
We are not threatening the government of this country, even the ruling party or any other political party in this country.
All we are saying is that this country is not doing well economically, politically, and socially, and we want to be part of the solution.
We have even come up with some solutions to collaborate with the government. We wrote many letters.
I recall one to the president (Emmerson Mnangagwa) to say we would want to work with the government. We were not responded to.
In the statement issued yesterday, Muswere accused unnamed opposition politicians and CSOs of attempting to foment chaos in the country to solicit funds from foreign donors and revive their waning careers. He said:
… as Government we are warning perpetrators of these serial choreographed theatrics who are involved in subversive activities aimed at undermining the rule of law that their days are numbered and that their lawless plans will never see the light of day.
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