Wallace Ruzvidzo, Zimpapers Reporter
CHILDREN of liberation war veterans, including those in higher and tertiary education, should use their skills and training to develop innovations, solutions, goods and services that help drive Zimbabwe’s industrialisation, modernisation and broader economic growth, President Mnangagwa said yesterday.
Addressing the Presidential Interface with Children of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle in Harare, President Mnangagwa said sustainable empowerment that enhances citizens’ capacity to drive production, establish viable businesses, develop skills and actively participate in the economy, rather than fostering dependency, was at the centre of the Second Republic’s agenda.
“This is the culture which our party, Zanu-PF, along with the Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs, should inculcate, for the ultimate realisation of impactful results especially at the community level,” he said.
“It is my expectation that you, the descendants of our war veterans, will leverage your youthfulness, various skills and training, to contribute to the growth of our economy, including in the public and private sectors, entrepreneurial enterprises, businesses and industry.
“Government will continue to strengthen educational support systems. These include scholarship programmes for tertiary education and vocational training which is now designed to boost production capacity, rooted in our heritage.”
President Mnangagwa encouraged the children of liberation war veterans to reflect on what they could do for their country, just as their predecessors did during the struggle for independence.
“Your parents and forebears made their individual decisions and choices to fight for Zimbabwe. Many of your parents, the brave sons and daughters of the soil, made the bold decision to join the war for our independence, freedom, democracy and sovereignty which we enjoy to this day.
“The baton has been passed to you. You too must make your own unique bold choices concerning your future and destiny, and how these will intertwine with the national cause and aspirations,” he said.
The President said the current generation, like the previous generation, had a weighty responsibility shaped by its individual attributes and the realities of the present time.
He added that it was in that context that the theme of the meeting, “Safeguarding the Legacy, Moving Towards Vision 2030”, must be understood.
“Ours was a generation whose blood, sweat and sacrifice are found on the national flag. You, being part of the vanguard of our revolutionary mass party, Zanu-PF, are called upon to unapologetically defend our independence, unity, freedom, and peace.
“As we march towards Vision 2030, hard honest work, production and productivity remain central cogs to the ongoing modernisation and industrialisation agenda.
“As the young generation, this is the greatest honour you must give to the memory of many veterans of the liberation struggle, your parents, who were then young boys and girls, who endured the brutality as well as the racist, oppressive system of the Smith regime.
Hatikanganwi/Asikhohlwa/ We will never forget,” he said.
President Mnangagwa outlined a raft of measures to deepen the welfare and economic empowerment of veterans of the liberation struggle, including targeted financing for veteran-owned enterprises and the review of key laws governing their welfare.
He said his Administration was implementing sustainable and tailor-made welfare and empowerment programmes aimed at integrating veterans and their dependents into the mainstream economy.
The Government is also reviewing the legal framework governing veterans’ affairs, with the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Bill, National Heroes Bill and War Victims Compensation Bill already drafted and under consideration, he said.
“Fundamental legal mechanisms and statutes governing the welfare of Veterans are being reviewed.
“The Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Bill, National Heroes Bill and War Victims Compensation Bill have been drafted and are under consideration.
“Furthermore, the Veterans policy is being developed and will provide an overarching framework for the management of Veterans affairs,” said President Mnangagwa.
The Second Republic has also opened opportunities for veterans to contribute to national development through appointments to public sector boards and strategic deployments across Government ministries, departments and agencies.
President Mnangagwa said under his leadership, some of the veterans have been entrusted to serve in positions of responsibility in public sector boards, as well as through strategic deployments across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Government will continue with its empowerment drive through the quota reserved for the veterans’ community, added President Mnangagwa.
He said the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) framework was also being used to establish targeted financing windows to support businesses owned by veterans.
The President said the measures were part of Government’s broader commitment to honouring veterans of the liberation struggle and ensuring that they and their dependants benefitted from the country’s development trajectory.
“I have listened to your deliberations and heard your concerns. Be assured that the Zanu-PF-led Government will continue to honour the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s history was part of the broader history of African liberation, sovereignty and self-determination, as well as the ongoing struggle against neo-colonialism.
He urged the younger generation to develop synergies with their counterparts across sister liberation movements and deepen people-to-people exchanges towards the unity of African peoples.
“As we move towards Vision 2030, SADC Vision 2050 and Africa union Agenda 2063, the task before us is inter-generational.
“The generation of fighters, carry the memory and experience of the liberation struggle, while you, the present generation, have the onerous responsibility of translating that inheritance into sustainable socio-economic development that leaves no one and no place behind.
“We, the current crop of African leaders, remain committed to ensure that generations coming after us inherit a united, peaceful, industrialised, integrated and more prosperous Africa.
“Safeguarding Africa’s liberation legacy and rich pan-African ethos entails never forgetting the sacrifices of those who came before us,” said the President.
Looking ahead, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabweans must draw inspiration from the country’s solid foundation to build strong and responsive institutions, enterprises, communities and a national economy capable of sustaining future generations.
“Iwe neni tose tinebasa rekuvaka Zimbabwe. Let us remain clear and focused, always putting our country first, ahead of any personal and group interests.
“Recommendations of this gathering must be forward-looking, and call for accelerated action in key development nodes of our economy.
“In doing so, I call upon you to be mindful that we are one people with one vision and every Zimbabwean is important,” he said.
President Mnangagwa commended the children of veterans of the liberation struggle for organising the “important gathering in the interests of advancing our shared national Vision and the rich armed liberation war legacy of our country”.
“May the sacrifices of those who fought for our freedom, independence, democracy, sovereignty and territorial integrity, continue to inspire our commitment to building a peaceful, productive and prosperous nation,” he said.
More than 10 000 children of veterans of the liberation struggle attended the interface.
