Online Reporter
Midlands Bureau
MIDLANDS Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube has presided over the handover of Presidential Empowerment Funds to War Veterans at a function held at the Kwekwe District War Veterans’ offices this morning.
The event highlighted the Second Republic’s efforts to honour and uplift war veterans in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision for inclusive empowerment and national development under Vision 2030.
The funds were delivered through the Special Presidential Advisor, Dr Paul Tungwarara, who kept his promise to ensure their timely disbursement.
Dr Tungwarara, who has been running the Presidential War Veterans Empowerment Fund on behalf of President Mnangagwa, facilitated the initiative as part of broader empowerment programmes for War Veterans
Addressing the war veterans and Government officials who attended the event, Minister Ncube commended the Second Republic for its unwavering support for the freedom fighters.
“It is indeed with profound gratitude that I address you on this historic occasion of the handover of empowerment funds to War Veterans from the Midlands Province following a firm commitment to honour the promise by our listening and people-centric leader, President Mnangagwa, when he officially handed over houses built for War Veterans during our 45th Independence Day anniversary held in Nembudziya, “ he said.
Minister Ncube said the event seamlessly aligns with the Constitution, which recognises the role of veterans of the war of liberation during and after independence.
He added that the Constitution provides for the welfare of veterans who fought in the war of liberation, those who assisted fighters, and those who were restricted and detained for their political activism.
“In this regard, the Midlands Province commends the Second Republic for restoring and upholding the image, dignity and economic empowerment aspirations of War Veterans, cognisant of President Mnangagwa’s desire for a broad-based and inclusive innovation, modernisation and industrialisation agenda as we march towards attainment of a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society by 2030 underpinned by the mantra nyika inovakwa, igotongwa, igonamatirwa nevene vayo,” he said.
Accordingly, following the ushering in of the New Dispensation in 2017, Minister Ncube said President Mnangagwa immediately rolled out robust, tangible programmes and projects designed to amplify the selfless sacrifices, commitment, resilience, loyalty, consistency and patriotism demonstrated by Veterans of the liberation struggle during the Second and Third Chimurenga.
“These include the creation of the War Veterans League and elevation of its leadership into the Party Zanu PF Politburo, creation of a stand-alone Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs with the mandate to address their welfare, establishment of the War Veterans Board tasked to identify investment opportunities and pursue the interests of War Veterans
Public Service Commission State Service Disability, War Victims, War Veterans, National Heroes and Ex-political Prisoners, Restrictees and Detainees non-contributory pension schemes, among others,” he said.
Minister Ncube said the Midlands Province commends the war veterans who continue to lead by example by remaining solidly behind the leadership of President Mnangagwa, and economic blueprints that include National Development Strategy 1, which surpassed targets, and the recently launched NDS 2.
“As Midlands Province, we carried forward to Mutare the people’s recommendation that President Mnangagwa lead the nation as President until 2030, which was overwhelmingly endorsed by the conference. In this regard, the Midlands Province remains united, resolute, steadfast and unwavering in support of Resolution Number 1,” he said.
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