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(NEWZIMBABWE) Judge calls for Vets’ reform, told off by Chinos

Judge calls for Vets’ reform, told off by Chinos
by
14/01/2010 00:00:00

HIGH Court judge, Justice Charles Hungwe says the country’s liberation war fighters should be non-partisan and called for the reform of their representative organisation in comments that immediately attracted a furious reaction from the war veterans association.

In submissions to the on-going constitutional making process, Justice Hungwe, a war veteran and first chairman of the Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Associations (ZNLWA) said the liberation war fighters should not be aligned to any political party.

“War veterans must be independent, not partisan,” he said.
But ZNLWA vice chairman, Joseph Chinotimba immediately and vigorously begged to differ.

“He was not talking on behalf of war veterans and he was not talking on behalf of ZANU-PF. He was not even talking on behalf of Zimbabwe.

“Judge Hungwe was dreaming and if you are happy about what he said you are also dreaming. Even if he was the first chairman of war veterans, I say No,” said Chinotimba.

However, the judge drew parallels with veterans in the United States’ various wars saying they were non-partisan and they could give advice to both Democrats and Republicans.

He said Zimbabwe’s war veterans have been abused but stopped short of clarifying by whom or stating which party they were aligned to.

The judge also said there is need to re-look at the definition of a war veteran to include anyone who has survived any war not the current situation where only those who fought in the country’s 1970s war for independence are regarded as war combatants.

In a separate interview, the deputy chairperson of the thematic committee on war veterans, Raymond Majongwe said the judge’s contribution was welcome.

“It was a very good speech. There is nothing wrong with war veterans defending their interests but they should do so responsibly.

“They should remain independent both in approach and outlook, which is what Justice Hungwe advocated for.

“It was good coming from their first chairperson; from the people who led them right from the beginning. The judge’s point is sustainable,” Majongwe said.

Labels: WAR VETERANS

posted by MrK @ 5:47 AM