War vets Mnangagwa bid treasonous: Co-VP

Treason … Acting president, Phelekezela Mphoko

He warned the war veterans to never “never ever deceive yourselves”, adding that they were “walking on a very dangerous course; you’re walking on the line of treason and subversion.”

Mphoko, who was addressing a Zanu PF Matabeleland North Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting in Lupane Thursday, said he was providing “professional advice” to fellow war veteran as he was also a “well-trained military man”.

His comments came after the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) spokesperson, Douglas Mahiya, said they had endorsed Mnangagwa to succeed President Mugabe.

The acting president accused Mahiya, war veterans’ chairman, Christopher Mutsvangwa, his deputy Headman Moyo, secretary general Victor Matemadanda and Zenzo Ncube of wanting to be seen as better veterans than others. Mphoko said he actually rescued Mutsvangwa from imprisonment in Mozambique during the war.

“Propping up someone when the President is alive and still in office, you talk about me and say I will take over, what does that mean in military terms, it’s a coup, its subversion, you can check this with military historians,” said Mphoko.

Mphoko accused Mahiya and friends of “using” Mnangagwa’s name, saying as a lawyer and war veteran himself, Mnangagwa knew that what the war veterans were doing was treasonous.

“If you speak on my behalf and say Mphoko is available, I become a warlord yet all of us are supposed to rally behind the President; how then do I come in here?” said Mphoko.

The acting president also warned those who go around talking ill of him and the First Lady, Grace Mugabe.