A press conference that was meant to be addressed by a faction of war veterans in Bulawayo was disrupted after a group of young people claiming to represent an organization called Youth Connect invavded the event.
The war veterans had booked at the Bulawayo Media Centre to discuss governance issues and announce a planned march against corruption, tribalism, and economic decline.
However, tensions flared as the youths interrupted leading to accusations that they were hired hands to stifle freedom of expression.
The press conference was set to be addressed by Andreas Ethan Mathibela, a faction leader of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), and Buster Magwizi, spokesperson for the ZPRA Veterans Association.
Before the event could formally begin, the war veterans were confronted by the youths who claimed they had booked the venue for their own meeting.
Outside the Media Centre there was a heavy police presence
In videos circulating on social media platforms, the war veterans questioned the legitimacy of Youth Connect accusing them of being proxies for the state.
“We came to the press club to address journalists, thinking democracy is there in the country and people are allowed to speak. But if the law enforcers say stop, they should tell us the reason,” said the agitated Magwizi
Standing alongside him, Mathibela demanded to know the youths’ motives.
“We didn’t invite Youth Connect. Are you serious that you are from Youth Connect?” he asked.
Despite the war veterans’ protests, the youths insisted their meeting was legitimate, though journalists at the venue were unaware of any such booking.
Magwizi accused the youths of being “state security problems” sent to destabilize their efforts to address national issues.
“We went to war, shed our blood for this country, for you guys to be here today.
“We are not here to trouble each other. Better for you to kill us, shoot us. We saw you outside; we know you guys. No one is quite a secret here. We know that you are state agents. You guys are precipitating violence.” he told the youths
Mathibela issued a stern warning to the youths.
“You could be protected by a clique of individuals, but you are not safe. If it’s like this, then let war start. You’re now going to inherit our shadows. If you don’t kill us, you must know what is coming to you,” he said.
The war veterans maintained that their actions were not driven by political affiliations but by a desire to see Zimbabwe achieve the freedom they fought for.
“We want proper governance. We have a leadership that is corrupt, nepotic, and tribalist. They have created a dynasty.
“We are not insulting anyone; we’re not engaging in partisan politics. We don’t belong to a political party. We’re war veterans. The reason we went to war was simply to help Zimbabwe attain political and economic freedom,” Mathibela said.
Magwizi echoed his concerns, lamenting that war veterans were being denied a platform to speak.
“We fought for peace, justice, and truth, but we are denied the space to speak, to tell the country, our parents, our children, and the world how Zimbabwe feels so that together, in an international framework, we can repair the ills this country is in,” he said.
He also accused the government of using intimidation tactics reminiscent of oppressive regimes.
“This is like Nazi operations,” Magwizi said.
Mathibela said the war veterans had informed the police about their planned march but claimed state agents were being used to silence them.
“We have informed the police, the commissioner general, that come Thursday, people are supposed to go onto the streets to exercise their constitutional rights. They will not stop us.
“If you want to engage us physically, that’s where we will meet. I will be there right at the front. These are hired hands; they have been bought by corrupt politicians who are interrupting our roadmap,” he declared.
A difiant Mathibela said efforts to disrupt the proposed march will not yield any results.
“We will overwhelm them. Our struggle was never overnight, but eventually, we won. We are war veterans.” he said
