Veterans revive anti-opposition campaign

Self-styled Zimbabwe independence war veterans have stormed six local government offices in the last two weeks, driving out workers suspected of supporting the opposition, state and opposition officials told Reuters on Wednesday.

The officials told Reuters they were assessing reports of “office invasions” by veterans loyal to President Robert Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF party. “We are looking at what is happening, and we would like to ensure that there is at least no violence,” one official said. On Sunday Vice-President Joseph Msika criticised the war veterans’ latest campaign, saying it was misdirected.

The veterans, who have invaded hundreds of white-owned farms and last year led violent campaigning for parliamentary elections, are targeting civil servants they suspect of supporting the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

War veterans’ leader Chenjerai Hunzvi said his members are carrying out a long-term programme to reassert ZANU-PF’s political dominance. MDC legal affairs secretary David Coltart said the office invasions were part of an intimidation campaign. “The government chose last year (to) use violence and intimidation to hang onto power. What is happening is in line with this policy,” he told Reuters. Meanwhile, the ‘Daily News’ reported on Monday that about 160 war veterans have been stranded in Masvingo, 200 km south of Harare after ZANU-PF failed to pay their allowances for campaigning in the Bikita West constituency.