| Country: | Zimbabwe |
| Details of Formation: | The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), commonly known as ‘war vets’, was formed in April 1989 by disgruntled former combatants who served during the Rhodesian Bush War (1964-1979). During the war, guerrillas and their supporters were promised to receive land expropriated from the country’s white minority in the event of a victory. However, significant land reform failed to take place immediately after the war. They are now dependent on funding and support from Zimbabwe’s ruling party ZANU-PF (Wikipedia). Although they have been active on and off before 2000, it was in that year when Mugabe started his land redistribution that the War Vets became a pro-government militia. The group was a PGM between 2000-04-21 and 2016-06 and again since 2017-11-24. |
| Details of Termination: | The group was a PGM between 2000-04-21 and 2016-06 and again since 2017-11-24. In 2016, the war veterans turned away from Mugabe by supporting Emmerson Mnangagwa as Mugabe’s successor. In the following, Chris Mutsvangwa lost his ministerial post, other ZNLWVA leading figures where arrested and charged and/or expelled from the ZANU-PF party. In November 2017, the group actively supported Mugabe’s deposition, for instance by organising protest marches calling for Mugabe’s resignation. With Mnangagwa becoming Mugabe’s successor as president, the group affiliated with the party again, fired members were readmitted and ZNLWVA leading persons were appointed into the Cabinet. The group was still active in 2020. |
| Purpose: | Starting in 2000, members of the War Vets acted as leaders of the invasions of white owned commercial farms with tacit approval from Mugabe’s government. In all elections since 2000, the War Vets have spearheaded election campaigns for ZANU-PF. The group became instrumental for the ruling party in suppressing the opposition through harassment, intimidation and violence (Wikipedia). War Vets took control over police stations in several villages where they detained and harassed opposition supporters. |
| Organisation: | The term ‘war vets’ is commonly used for members of the Zimbabwe National War Veterans’ Association (ZNWVA). Not all war veterans belong to this association since there are other factions or parties in which war veterans are members. Former leaders of the ZNWVA include John Gwitira (1989-1997), Chenjerai Hunzvi (1997-2001) and Jabulani Sibanda (2001-2014). Christopher Mutsvangwa is chairman of the association since November 2014. At the same time he was part of the government as War Veterans minister between 2014 and 2016. In 2019, the party announced plans to incorporate the ZNWVA into formal party structures. |
| Weapons and Training: | The group carried AK-47 assault rifles and other automatic weapons during farm invasions. |
| Size: | The overall membership in the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association is approximately 30,000 (Wikipedia). However, reports suggest that merely 12,000 are deployed in order to support Mugabe’s government. |
| Reason for Membership: | War veterans benefitted from the land reform process, as they received redistributed land. The government paid war veterans pensions, health insurance and school fees for their children. |
| Treatment of Civilians: | During farm invasions that aimed at expropriation, War Vets killed and assaulted farmers as well as MDC supporters. Police inertia followed reported instances of violence and murder on the farms. |
| Other Information: | -- |
| References: |
PGMD Wikipedia. “Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwe_National_Liberation_War_Veterans_Association Wikipedia. “2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests”. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2016%E2%80%932017_Zimbabwe_protests&oldid=997983800. |