Mbengo was quoted in a local daily as saying the country could experience a similar wave of uprisings to North Africa, if the government failed to adequately deal with the issue of high unemployment.
He suggested that there was a need for the government to channel funds into the resuscitation of collapsed industries to arrest the ballooning figures of unemployment.
Mbengo was suspended from his position pending investigations for making statements that allegedly contradict the party’s position on empowerment. He is accused of making statements that undermine Zanu (PF) ideology and principles.
In a statement, the Chairperson for Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association Manicaland Chapter, Linda Matatu, confirmed the suspension of Mbengo over the utterances he made.
“We confirm the suspension of Ivan Mbengo as Provincial Deputy Political Commissar for Manicaland over the statement he made during the budget consultation. As war veterans we disassociate ourselves from the remarks. He was speaking in his own capacity and not representing the association,” read the statement.
Mbengo has since appeared before a disciplinary hearing where he is reported to have refuted the allegations. However, other members of the war veterans’ association who declined to be named said Mbengo was being persecuted for speaking the truth in public.
“In a normal democracy, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. This is a clear case of dictatorship. This man has no case to answer because he was giving a solution to an imminent crisis at a public forum,” said one war veteran.
Post published in: News