The collaborators, whose majority looked in their late fifties, said they felt used by Zanu (PF) during the armed struggle. We are not prepared to be used at future bases, as Zanu (PF) abandoned us suggesting we were not part of the armed struggle. You called us to convene for vetting purposes so that we may be awarded cash allowances. What is this base thing you are talking about, said a collaborator in the crowd.
This was in response to suggestions by one of the senior collaborators, that authority be sought from Zanu (PF) headquarters to re-open political educative bases in the area. Similar bases were used by Zanu (PF) to beat up and kill suspected MDC supporters in 2008.
When we protested against sidelining by Zanu (PF) in 1982, party leadership said our contribution in the liberation struggle was insignificant, as like dogs, we barked for the owner. This was an insult to our intelligence and contribution made in the armed struggle. This time around we will not let ourselves taken advantage of by anyone again, said a war collaborator who identified himself as, Rarira Gidi.
War collaborators left the hall disgruntled before the expected guest of honour arrived to address them. The meeting flopped. From the hall, some of them could be seen collecting copies of The Zimbabwean and the Prime Ministers news letter from MDC-T official, Goldene Mitizes shop. As if afraid to be seen collecting the papers, war collaborators quickly tucked the newspapers away in bags.
Post published in: News