ZIPRA Veterans Demand That Matemadanda Apologise To Chief Ndiweni
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) secretary general Victor Matemadanda has come under fire from ZIPRA veterans for his verbal attack on outspoken Matabeleland Chief who called for additional sanctions to be imposed on the ruling ZANU PF elite.
Matemadanda on Monday seemed to question the wisdom of the people of Ntabazindunda who appointed Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni to chieftaincy.
In his verbal salvo towards Chief Ndiweni, Matemadanda said:
It is unfortunate that in a country, we have such calibre of people as chiefs and you even wonder what happens to the tribe that is supposed to take the chieftainship. Do they not have a better person to take the chieftainship?
However, ZIPRA Veterans secretary general, Petros Sibanda, in an interview with NewZimbabwe.com, reminded Matemadanda of Chief Fortune Charumbira’s statements about his undying support for ZANU PF. Said Ncube:
Matemadanda should apologise to Chief Ndiweni and the people of Matabeleland. Who is he to tell the people of Matabeleland on how to choose their chiefs? He certainly cannot be a minister of every ministry.
We ZIPRA Veterans have not interfered with the selection of Chiefs in Mashonaland. Why is he interfering with our traditional and cultural ways of selecting our own chiefs? Charumbira is on record saying he supports Zanu PF and nothing has been said.
He should fulfil his promises of economically empowering Zapu cadres. More than 20 000 ZIPRA fighters have not been vetted.
Chief Charumbira has over the years expressed his support for ZANU PF, and as the president of the Chiefs Council and traditional leader, has been dragged to court for his partisan utterances.