Story by Gay Matambo
GOVERNMENT has reaffirmed its commitment to improving the socio-economic welfare of veterans of the liberation struggle through a range of empowerment programmes and social protection initiatives.
This emerged during the ZANU PF Manicaland Provincial Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Inter-District Meeting held at Mutare Teachers’ College on Sunday.
The meeting brought together district leadership from across Manicaland Province to deliberate on grassroots mobilisation, party ideology and the implementation of empowerment programmes designed to improve the livelihoods of veterans of the liberation struggle.
Addressing delegates, senior party and government officials said the Second Republic, under the leadership of President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, regards the welfare of veterans of the liberation struggle as a national priority.
“Our freedom was not bought with silver or gold, but with the blood of these brave men and women gathered here. The Second Republic will continue to ensure that health, land and economic empowerment initiatives are scaled up to match the dignity that our veterans deserve. Their welfare is a core national obligation, not an afterthought,” ZANU PF Manicaland Chairperson for Veterans of the Liberation Struggle, Cde Linda Matatu, said.
ZANU PF Manicaland Provincial Chairperson, Cde Tawanda Mukodza, said the party remains committed to ensuring that veterans of the liberation struggle enjoy improved living standards.
“Veterans of the liberation struggle are important to us. They gave up their youth so that we could inherit a nation. Therefore, ensuring they live in comfort, with adequate medical care and dependable livelihoods, is not a favour. It is a debt of gratitude that the party and government will continue to honour without fail,” he said.
Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance the participation of veterans of the liberation struggle in key economic sectors.
“We are tracking the progress of our veterans’ inclusion in mining and agricultural joint ventures across Manicaland. It is the stance of the party and government that those who freed the soil must be the primary beneficiaries of its wealth. We are working around the clock to harmonise statutory benefits so that no veteran is left behind by inflation or economic shifts,” he said.
Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs, Honourable Monica Mavhunga, reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of veterans of the liberation struggle and their families.
“True welfare does not end with the individual cadre. It extends to their families. The Second Republic is committed to that; hence, it has and will continue to structure a framework where the spouses and children of our liberation heroes are securely looked after, particularly through educational grants and uninterrupted access to land. We must guarantee that the families of those who stood on the frontlines are forever protected from economic vulnerability,” she said.
The government continues to implement various economic empowerment programmes and social safety nets for veterans of the liberation struggle in line with constitutional provisions recognising their contribution to Zimbabwe’s independence, sovereignty and development.
