War veterans to storm cities

War veterans could set up bases in every urban constituency in Zimbabwe in the next four months as part of efforts by the ruling ZANU-PF party to win presidential elections next year, the ‘Financial Gazette’ reported on Thursday. The plan, under which so-called “mobilisation bases” would be established, aims to whip up support for ZANU-PF in cities and towns where the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) enjoys a strong following.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) chairman Chenjerai Hunzvi confirmed on Wednesday that the ZNLWVA was setting up structures in all urban areas to launch what he called an aggressive campaign for the presidential ballot. “We are setting up structures in every urban constituency aimed at penetrating every urban area as part of our campaign for the presidential elections,” Hunzvi told the ‘Financial Gazette’ by telephone. “It’s an aggressive plan which will have impact in all urban areas,” he added.

News of the planned deployment of the veterans immediately drew sharp criticism and warnings that it would plunge Zimbabwe, already mired in a deepening political and economic crisis, into a ruinous civil war. “Such a plan is dangerous as we may end up having urban guerrilla warfare,” said Masipula Sithole, a political science lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe. “With the high level of unemployment in the country, it is really a recipe for fomenting anarchy before the presidential elections and it has far-reaching effects on social stability,” he told the newspaper. The veterans, who are backing President Robert Mugabe in the presidential ballot, have threatened to go back to war if ZANU-PF loses the election. Mugabe himself has repeatedly stated that he will not allow the MDC to take over the leadership of the country.