Arrested war veterans say communiqué merely a challenge to the governance of Zimbabwe

Five Zimbabwe war veterans leaders who were arrested in connection with a communiqué in which the former liberation fighters ditched their patron President Robert Mugabe yesterday said the communiqué, which they did not author, was merely a challenge by the authors to the governance of the country.

The veterans Douglas Mahiya, Francis Nhando, Victor Matemadanda, Headman Moyo and Hoyini Samuel Bhila had their bail conditions relaxed which was a major relief. 

They are now required to report once a fortnight on Fridays at their nearest police station.

According to The Herald, the veterans said: “This communiqué, which was not authored by the accused, is merely a challenge by the authors to the governance of the country.

“The authors complained of the perceived erosion of the values of the liberation struggle, the neglect of the masses who are suffering and the persecution, decimation and expulsion of war veterans.

“They sign off by withdrawing their support for ‘a leader who has presided over untold suffering of the general population . . .’”

On Monday, their lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, said even if the veterans had in fact crafted and disseminated the document there would be nothing wrong with this.

 “It would be exercising the right they have, to demand the enforcement of constitutionally guaranteed rights such as freedom of expression,” she said.

Here is the full communiqué issued by the veterans

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