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War veterans spell bad news for Mugabe

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe. Picture Credit: Gallo Images
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe. Picture Credit: Gallo Images

The fallout between President Robert Mugabe and war veterans, once his most loyal allies, may force Zimbabwe’s military to show its hand, sooner, rather than later.

The country is slipping deeper and deeper into an economic crisis, which has the potential of reconfiguring its political landscape.

The war veterans’ association has strong links to Zimbabwe’s military — the latter, which although sidelined, remains potential kingmaker in Zanu-PF’s long-drawn out succession race. Last week it reminded Mugabe it was the veterans’ support during the liberation war that elevated him to the leadership of Zanu-PF in the late 1970s.

Deaths, hunger stalk Zimbabwe

"When he arrived in Mozambique ... he was not the president of Zanu-PF, but we made him so. Our decision to make him the president of Zanu-PF was accepted here at home, regionally by the Frontline States and internationally. Yet, today, he refers to us as irrelevant," the veterans’ association said.

The war veterans’ chairman, Chris Mutsvangwa, expelled in July from Zanu-PF, has close associations with the army generals.

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