According to the state-owned Herald newspaper, Zimbabwe’s permanent secretary for the Welfare Services for the War Veterans, War Collaborators, Ex-political Detainees and Restrictees, Brigadier General (retired) Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi, said everything was ready for the meeting.

Tapfumaneyi said, despite minor problems that they had encountered, at least 90% of the 10 000 expected former liberation fighters were already in the Harare for the “crunch” indaba.

Mugabe was expected to meet with the war veterans to discuss challenges affecting the former freedom fighters, as well as problems facing the ruling Zanu-PF party.

Local media reports indicated that Mugabe was facing mounting pressure from the former freedom fighters, who were demanding that he took action against a seemingly “rogue faction” in the ruling party, known as Generation 40 (G40).  

The G40 was reportedly bent on blocking Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa from taking over from Mugabe when he finally leaves office.

The G40 was reportedly aligned to first lady Grace Mugabe, while the war veterans were believed to be aligned to Mnangagwa.

According to NewsDay, the “crunch” meeting between Mugabe and the war veterans would centre on factionalism, endemic corruption within Zanu-PF and government and the contentious succession issue that has gripped the party.

Unnamed war veteran were quoted saying that they were ready to face Mugabe in what was expected to be a no-holds-barred discussion.