Warring factions within the Zvimba East Veterans Investment Company Private Limited (Zevic) have called for unity among members, as efforts intensify to resolve a protracted leadership and governance dispute that has threatened the liberation war veterans’ investment vehicle.
Zevic, which was incorporated on May 23, 2023, was established with the vision of creating housing, employment and investment opportunities for liberation war veterans and their families.
However, three years after its formation, the company has become embroiled in a bitter leadership and land dispute that has spilled into boardrooms, government offices and the courts.
The dispute has been characterised by competing leadership claims, allegations of financial impropriety, governance concerns and prolonged litigation, raising questions over the future of an initiative that was intended to benefit veterans of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.
The Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs has now stepped in, summoning representatives of the opposing factions to a meeting last week, as it seeks to find common ground and bring the parties together.
One of the members, Shingirai Siraha, confirmed that he had met the minister, but declined to disclose details of the discussions.
Siraha, however, said his faction remained open to dialogue aimed at reuniting Zevic, provided such engagements were conducted on what he described as a level playing field.
“We are willing to meet and discuss issues that can reunite Zevic, but the discussions have to be done on a level playing field,” Siraha said.
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He maintained that his faction represented the legitimate Zevic, and said there were governance and administrative anomalies that needed to be addressed before meaningful reconciliation could take place.
“We believe that we are the genuine Zevic with all the papers. There are a lot of anomalies with regards to governance that need to be addressed. The ministry should create a platform that brings justice to all the parties,” he said.
Siraha welcomed the ministry’s intervention, saying the veterans had a responsibility to ensure that the company achieved the objectives for which it was established.
“We welcome the deliberations. We owe it to the general populace to deliver,” he said.
Another founding member and war veteran, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said unity was the only way Zevic could move forward.
“Unity is the panacea to this entire hullabaloo within Zevic. There is a need for unity,” he said.
He blamed the divisions on what he described as a struggle for power and weak governance structures.
“Power hunger has destroyed Zevic, together with poor governance systems. We need to put the interests of the veterans first,” he said.
The latest intervention by the ministry comes as the leadership wrangle continues to cast a shadow over the company’s original mandate of empowering liberation war veterans and their families through investment, housing and employment opportunities.
An official from the Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs confirmed that efforts were underway to bring the warring parties together.
The official said the ministry was engaging the different sides in an effort to find common ground and resolve the impasse.
