Vusumuzi Dube
Valencia Ndhlovu, Sunday News Reporter
THE business community has been called upon to continue assisting war veterans in the country through providing them with basics to ensure they are cushioned against economic challenges, a philanthropist Dr Nicholas Masuku has said.
Speaking at an occasion to give some assistance to war veterans in Bulawayo, Dr Masuku who leads the Destitute Care International Trust which is a registered organisation whose focus is to help ex-combatants said the former freedom fighters were very important people who deserve everyone’s recognition.
He said the onus was on the country’s citizens to ensure that the freedom fighters were accorded respect and recognition, especially those that were no longer fit to work for themselves.
suku said the Destitute Care International Trust was a vehicle through which those who want to assist war veterans could use to get to them.
“The organisation is non-selective as it intends to help ex-combatants and its aim is to make sure that the people who fought the war of Independence get help as they can no longer fend for themselves.
“We are very thankful to business communities who have lent a helping hand and portrayed a sense of togetherness,” said Dr Masuku.
He promised that in future the Trust was going to ensure the war veterans were helped with farming resources and thanked founders of the programme, former freedom fighters; Cdes Nkosilamandla Mkhwananzi, Jabulani Sibasa and Mr Saviors Moyo.
Dr Masuku urged unity among war veterans saying the thrust of unity should never be overemphasised as it was the bedrock of development as philosophised by President Mnangagwa when he said nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaninilo.
The organisation had started distributing food to elderly veterans and was disturbed by the Covid-19 pandemic and now their focus is to ensure that they are assisted in practicing agriculture so that they get enough to eat as most of them are not gainfully employed.
“We don’t want to see them become destitute as they did a huge job in liberating the country from the yoke of colonialism. It is critical we show them love now when they are still alive,” he said.
Dr Masuku has been rewarded for his efforts in assisting war veterans, among other philanthropic works, with the International Institute of Philanthropy, IIP conferring him with an Honourary Doctorate of Humane Letters (DHL) while the International Women’s University conferred him with an Honorary Doctor of Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship.
Online Reporter