The ManicaPost
ON Tuesday this week, Zanu-PF provincial secretary for labour and production, Nathaniel Mhiripiri (NM), stormed The Manica Post newsroom for an unsolicited interview on his war veteran status following a story carried in the November 21 edition exposing him as a fake liberation war veteran.
Our News Editor, Cletus Pfungwa Mushanawani (CPM) had a chat with the supercharged politician who finally opened up on his involvement in the liberation struggle and the Rhodesian Front Forces.
CPM: Cde Mhizha, what a pleasant surprise to visit us in our newsroom?
NM: I don’t want to be enemies with you people of the media. I am here to put the record straight regarding my status both during and after the liberation struggle. So many things have been said about me, most of which are lies. Who did not participate in the liberation struggle? Are the war veterans the only persons who participated in the liberation struggle? What was the role of chimbwidos, mujibhas and the masses? As the media you should guard against being used by some individuals who are out to settle political scores. Yes, what happened at Matumba 6 on November 14 was least expected, but should you use a funeral to fight, rebuke or humiliate someone? Ndiri murwi wepamusoro-soro.
CPM: What do you think led to this embarrassment, which happened in the full glare of those who were in attendance at the national event?
NM: My friend, I have no time to waste on some trivial issues. Those fighting me know that I command a lot of support among Zanu-PF members especially in my home district of Makoni. I am a fighter and people know that I will always hit back when provoked and they try by all means to tarnish my image. Why fight when we belong to the same family? We should target the enemy and not fellow cadres. It is common knowledge that Mandi (Makoni South legislator, Cde Mandi Chimene) came from Mutasa to find a political home in my home constituency. I was among the people who welcomed her to Makoni South, but I don’t know her motive to humiliate me in public. What I know is that she is among the people who are afraid of me when it comes to politics and they will go all the way to try and discredit me. For your own information, I was attacked by eight people on my way from the reburial ceremony and I have since made a police report. When you published that first story about my war veteran status I even helped your street vendors to display the poster in Rusape. I know you were doing your job, but it was my enemies who were behind the story.
CPM: Like what I asked you before at Matumba 6 about your involvement in the liberation struggle, can you tell the nation the truth so that this issue can be put to rest? Besides that I have since gathered that you used to be called by the name Jairos during your stint with the Rhodesian Forces, what is your position regarding this?
NM: They are liars. I was never called by the name Jairos. I was never stationed at Ruda Camp or operated in Nyafaro area. I never used the name Jairos. I don’t want my name to be tarnished. I don’t like that. Where are people getting all these lies? I should be respected because I worked so hard for the party especially in Makoni, fighting corruption, but today some people want to spoil my good reputation. I have never been a failure and have never committed any offence despite the fact that my name has been linked to some criminal activities. I love my country, but some people out there are still selling out. I was trained to protect my country. I don’t want ignorance to influence people’s ways of thinking.
CPM: But Cde Mhizha, you are not addressing the issue at hand about how you were involved in the struggle? In short, are you a trained liberation war veteran and where were you trained? Where did you operate from?
NM: Why is my liberation war credentials a big issue? Like what I said before, who is a war veteran? I served in the Rhodesian army on call up, but it was something that was forced on me. I was among the soldiers who broke into an armoury and stole FN rifles which were smuggled to Zanla bases in Mozambique. I did that because I supported the cause of the liberation struggle. So for some people to label me a sell-out is not fair because I was also fighting for the same cause like them. There were infiltrators everywhere and I was an infiltrator in the Rhodesian Forces. I was always in trouble with them because of my work to sabotage the Rhodesians. I was among the prime suspects of anything that involved sabotage among the recruited black soldiers. I was always under surveillance. I deserted the Rhodesian Forces in 1976 and went into hiding. I worked closely with freedom fighters that operated in my home area of Chiduku, Mavhudzi and Wedza, among them Cdes Franco and Sakandionde. I made many of my relatives who were employed by the Rhodesian Government leave their employment because by continuing working for the whites they were serving their interests. My track record is there for everyone to see. I am not worried about the gratuities given to liberation war veterans because I know of better ways of making my money. I could not have been holding any position in Zanu-PF if I was a sell-out as some people want the world to believe.
CPM: Thank you for setting the record straight, but why did you take so many years to explain your status?
NM: Like what I said before, I have no time for trivialities. I am a fighter of corruption and I am known for that. Let my haters continue doing whatever they will be doing, but I cannot watch corrupt people do whatever they want in the party. These people plotting my downfall are sell-outs. I never said I wanted gratuities and why should I have told anyone about my liberation war credentials? As I speak my leaders in the party have confidence in me, a reason I am among the senior politicians in Makoni District. In actual fact I am the one running the party office in Rusape. We should not smear each other because we are all from one family, Zanu-PF. Where were all these people claiming to be saints when the party was being hijacked by greedy elements? We should feel for President Mugabe who is being persecuted for our sins. I am happy now that I have managed to speak to you and cleared what was bothering me over the past few years. Even God is now happy because it has rained while I was speaking to you to show that He has approved whatever I was saying. We are God-fearing soldiers.
CPM: Thank you, Cde Mhiripiri.
NM: I am happy now, but remember do not be used by people with agendas to smear mud on others.
