Government attacked for pushing out “real” war vets

Wilfred Mhanda of the Zimbabwe Liberators Platform has attacked the Zimbabwean government for sidelining the “real” war veterans, the independent ‘Daily News’ reported on Monday.

Mhanda was quoted as saying that Mugabe was “comfortable” with people like Joseph Chinotimba, whose war credentials are being questioned. “It is sad that the press continues to build and give credibility to people like Joseph Chinotimba,” he said. “You did that with Chenjerai Hunzvi and these criminals who are not war veterans at all literally took over and have managed to tarnish the image of the genuine war veterans. The idea is to portray a caricature of the war veteran and alienate the real war veteran from the people.” Mhanda is the former commander of Mgagawo military camp in Tanzania
Meanwhile, farmers in Zimbabwe reported that widespread looting and destruction of white-owned property has continued around the northern town of Chinhoyi. The head of the Commercial Farmers’ Union (CFU), Colin Cloete, was quoted by the BBC as saying that “marauding bands” of government supporters were wreaking havoc on the town, and more farms were being pillaged. “I make a heartfelt plea to the ministers and police chiefs who took an oath of allegiance to protect all the citizens of Zimbabwe, to swiftly and decisively avoid further destruction,” said Cloete.

On Friday, 21 whites were denied bail after being charged with violence and assault following clashes with a group of squatters in Chinhoyi. But on Saturday, Mugabe warned white farmers against organising attacks on people resettled by the government. “We will proceed with land reform with or without their cooperation, with or without sanctions. Let that be known here and abroad,” he said.