HARARE – A bitter dispute has erupted within Zanu-PF as members of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) accuse the party’s national secretary for war veterans, Douglas Mahiya, of deliberately distorting the relationship between the association and the ruling party’s war veterans league. The ZNLWVA alleges that Mahiya is misrepresenting the hierarchy, claiming the association is subordinate to the league, a move they see as a power grab. The core of the conflict centres on Mahiya’s alleged assertions to provincial structures that the ZNLWVA should report to the league and cannot convene meetings without the express consent of the league’s provincial chairpersons. This has ignited fury among war veterans who view the league as a creation of the association, not its superior. ZNLWVA secretary-general Samuel Parerenyatwa minced no words in condemning Mahiya’s actions, stating that his “distortion” had created “serious problems” and sparked widespread complaints from war veterans. “The correct position is that the league was created from the association and it is its baby. The league is an emissary of the association and is answerable to the association,” Parerenyatwa told Newsday. He emphasised that the association spearheaded the formation of the league to ensure effective representation of war veterans’ concerns within the party and to provide ideological support. “Mahiya is trying to consolidate his power by putting the association under his control,” Parerenyatwa warned. “That’s a non-starter and a dangerous game and you should be warned. He has been a senior member of the association and he is well knowledgeable that he is supposed to report back to the association and take further instructions.” Parerenyatwa further lamented that Mahiya’s “misleading address” at war veterans’ gatherings, attended by representatives from various governmental and non-governmental organisations, was sowing confusion and undermining the association’s efforts. Accusations of Hijacking Benefits The ZNLWVA’s grievances extend beyond matters of protocol and hierarchy. Parerenyatwa accused Mahiya of “hijacking proceeds of their efforts” to secure assistance for war veterans. “Our association is geared to ensure the institution of the war veterans is respected and taken care of by the party, the government and its agencies,” Parerenyatwa explained. He detailed how the ZNLWVA executive, following its inauguration, engaged with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, their patron, who directed them to approach relevant ministers for assistance. “After having fruitful meetings with the relevant ministers, such as finance, lands, local government and social welfare, among others, the proceeds got channelled through Mahiya, who is sidelining our membership,” Parerenyatwa alleged. “There is positive communication between various ministers and our association through our national secretary-general. Through manipulation and misrepresentation, Mahiya is taking over the benefits from our national executive team. This must stop forthwith.” Efforts to reach Mahiya for comment were unsuccessful, as his mobile phone was reportedly unreachable. Mutsvangwa Backs ZNLWVA Adding weight to the ZNLWVA’s claims, Zanu-PF national spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa corroborated Parerenyatwa’s account, affirming that the war veterans league is indeed a product of the ZNLWVA. “The organ is like the youth league, it is like the women’s league, it is like the main wing of the party. So, it is the fourth wing of the party, it is a party organ and it answers to the president of the party. The association answers to the patron, who is the president. It answers to the patron of the association, who is the president,” Mutsvangwa stated. He elaborated on the historical context, noting that the ZNLWVA was formed in 1980 and subsequently lobbied the party to create a dedicated organ for war veterans. “Then later, the same association canvassed the party to have an organ in the party, so that the organ is a product of the association. And the president assented, then formed the war veterans league, just like the women’s league, just like the youth league. So the league was born out of the lobbying of the association to the president and secretary of the party.” Mutsvangwa clarified that the league does not have authority over the ZNLWVA. “They can co-operate with the association because the affiliate is autonomous and they report directly to the president, who is their patron,” he said. Mahiya’s Activities Despite the controversy, Mahiya has been actively involved in launching various projects aimed at benefiting war veterans, often in the company of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s investment advisor, Paul Tungwarara, and Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs minister Monica Mavhunga.