Political heavyweight Dumiso Dabengwa has unmasked the leader of the War Veterans Association Jabulani Sibanda, the man behind the “million man” march as an opportunist who never took part in the protracted liberation struggle for Zimbabwe.

“Sibanda is now a war veteran. He was trained in Angola but he did not take part in any war because it was seen that he was too weak and ill trained to take part in the war,” Dabengwa recently told the Bulawayo press club.

The latest revelation comes at a time when several leading politicians including Vice President Msika are speaking out against Sibanda’s antics accusing the war veterans leader of causing confusion in the ruling ZANU PF party.

Addressing a meeting in the country’s second city VP Msika urged party supporters to be weary of people like Sibanda who have dubious war credentials but are quick to claim to be more Zanu PF than other party members.

“You should be weary of those people who want to portray themselves as saints when they have selfish motives. This business of speaking badly about senior members of the party like what some war veterans have been doing here in Matabeleland should stop because it goes against everything that the late Joshua Nkomo stood for.

“I will see to it that those who are bent on causing confusion in the party are dealt with and put in their rightful place,” said Msika in apparent reference to Sibanda.

“He said they could not stand to be addressed by Sibanda who is suspended from the party and should not be leading the war veterans’ body. The vice president also promised to talk to President Mugabe over the Sibanda issue because there is a growing feeling in Matabeleland that the man is doing more harm than good ahead of the elections,” said the sources.

However, it appears as if Msika and company might be losing the war against Sibanda as there is growing speculation that the war veterans’ leader will be readmitted into ZANU PF before the end of the month.

Sibanda, who was suspended in 2004 and has twice unsuccessfully appealed against the decision, is pushing for re-admission so that he can participate in primary elections and earn a ticket to represent the ruling party in the harmonized elections in March.

“It looks like this time Sibanda will succeed in his quest to be readmitted into the party as he has won over the heart of President Mugabe by organising the million man march as well as rallying all the war veterans behind the President’s candidacy in the March elections,” said a well placed source.

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