Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba and Freedom Mupanedemo
THE Government on Wednesday launched a US$500 000 revolving empowerment fund for the Children of Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association (CZLWVA) amid calls for the beneficiaries to reject the temptations of idleness and substance abuse so that they become pillars of their communities’ development in line with Vision 2030.
The empowerment fund spearheaded by the Second Republic, led by President Mnangagwa, was launched in front of thousands of members of the CZLWVA from across the country by the Special Presidential Investment Advisor, Dr Paul Tungwarara, at the Zanu-PF Winery Convention Centre along Mvuma road in Gweru.
Also present at the launch were the Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs, Monica Mavhunga, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Tino Machakaire, Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, the national chairperson of CZLWVA, Cde Phineas Makombe, and the Deputy Secretary for National Security in the Zanu-PF Politburo, Cde Tendai Chirau.
Addressing the jovial members of the CZLWVA, Dr Tungwarara said the event had been made possible because of the immeasurable sacrifices made by the mothers and fathers of the children of war veterans.
“They answered the call of liberation. They endured the bush, the deprivation, and the brutality of a war fought to reclaim our land, our dignity, and our right to self-determination. They bore the brunt so that Zimbabwe could be born. But liberation came at a cost, paid not only by the combatants themselves, but also by their families, by you, their children,” he said.
Dr Tungwarara said while their parents were in the trenches, in detention, or mobilising for the struggle, their children’s childhoods were inevitably shaped by that absence, adding that education was often interrupted or inaccessible.
“You carry within you the scars of those struggles, the silent scars of a generation raised amidst the turbulence of revolution. Yet, Comrades, look around you. Look at the strength in this room. You are not merely the offspring of heroes and heroines.
“You are the living embodiment of their spirit. The blood of the war of liberation flows in your veins. You carry within you the same revolutionary fire, the fire for change, for justice, and empowerment.
“You are not a footnote to history; you are its vital next chapter. You have an inherent right, a right forged in the struggle of your parents’ sacrifice. A right to be heard. A right to be recognised. A right to be empowered. You have the right to step out of the long shadow of struggle and into the bright light of opportunities,” said Dr Tungwarara.
He revealed that recognising this undeniable truth, President Mnangagwa, who himself is a stalwart and decorated veteran of the liberation struggle, took a decisive action that has seen the children of war veterans being empowered through the fund.
“President Mnangagwa sees you, he hears you, he knows you, loves you, and understands the weight of your legacy and the urgency of your aspirations, and that is why we are launching the US$500 000 empowerment fund for you,” said Dr Tungwarara.
“This is not just a gesture; it is a significant statement of principle. It is His Excellency walking the resolute talk of the Second Republic: Leaving No One and No Place Behind.
“It is a tangible affirmation that the sacrifices of the past are not forgotten, and that the future belongs to all Zimbabweans, especially those whose lineage is intrinsically scripted into the very fabric of our nation’s freedom.”
Dr Tungwarara indicated that President Mnangagwa is acutely aware of the formidable challenges facing the youth today, challenges that threaten to engulf even the most resilient.
The scourge of drug and substance abuse, he noted, is a poison eroding the future.
“Unemployment and underemployment breed disillusionment, despair, and idleness. These are not abstract concepts; they are daily realities for too many young Zimbabweans, creating a perilous path away from productivity and hope. It is unthinkable that the children of those who fought so valiantly for our freedom should succumb to these destructive forces,” he said.
Dr Tungwarara described the scheme as a strategic pathway to self-reliance, dignity, and active citizenship.
Crucially, he said it provides targeted financial support and seed capital designed to empower the youths to start or expand viable Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Dr Tungwarara and Minister Machakaire also donated a vehicle for use by the CZLWVA and several smartphones for the executive members.
