adminTHE Ministry of Finance has released $6 million towards the payment of school fees for war veterans, war collaborators and former political detainees’ children.
Welfare Services for War Veterans, Collaborators and former Political Detainees Minister Christopher Mutsvangwa said the money was meant to address the challenges which children of the heroes and heroines were facing.
“The Government is committed to improve the welfare of war veterans. Last week we received $6 million from the Minister of Finance and we are going to channel funds towards paying school fees for children of war veterans. My ministry will continue working hard in ensuring that war veteran’s lives are improved. We thank Cde Patrick Chinamasa (Finance Minister) for the job well done. He is doing all this at a time when the economy is not doing well,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
The second phase of vetting war veterans, he said, was expected to start any time this year as the ministry has finished consolidating laws that will give direction to the war vets ministry.
“Vetting has been waiting for the budget. However, there is something big which has come to light. There is a seminar which will be held in Kariba which will consolidate all laws that affect war veterans. We are grateful to the Ministry of Justice. The non-combatant cadres will form the new category. People who went to war but because of some unfortunate reasons they did not train, will be catered for,” he said.
Minister Mutsvangwa who is also the chairperson of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association said war veterans were going to take in business that comes along with drought relief programmes.
“In this drought situation, as the ministry we are working hard to ensure that we take an active part in importing maize and all the business that comes with drought relief. As war veterans we have a role to play in the development of this country. At the moment, we are talking to South Africa’s Umkhonto weSizwe, armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC) freedom fighters to set up joint ventures so that as war veterans we participate meaningfully in the development of the country.
“The group will meet the President after he returns home from his annual leave.”
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu