The Zimbabwean can reveal that a splinter group of war veterans has been formed in Mashonaland East to mobilize support for Makoni. Stephen Chasi, a war vet leader in Marondera told this paper that they are not happy with “Mugabe’s dictatorship and we are ready to liberate the country again. We are mobilizing in the province and across the whole country for real war veterans to stand up against the evil going on in the party and in the country. We want a new leader and have been suppressed for a long time.”
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association Jabulani Sibanda admitted “there are some elements trying to cause disunity in the party and campaign against President Mugabe”.
Several Mujuru-aligned officials such as Ray Kaukonde, Joel Biggie Matiza and Kenneth Musanhi are backing Makoni, in addition to other officials who have appeared to be blindly loyal to Mugabe, such as Saviour Kasukuwere.
Ruling party officials in Mutoko, Murehwa and Marondera in Mashonaland East and Shamva in Mashonaland Central have told The Zimbabwean of plans not to campaign for Mugabe. “It is amazing how the numbers are growing of people wanting to back Makoni,” said an official in Mutoko.
Makoni has said many party members are backing him and actually persuaded him to stand for the presidency.
Post published in: News