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Yoliswa Dube-Moyo, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief
Families of the fallen luminaries interred at the Matabeleland South provincial heroes shrine in Gwanda have called on Government to prioritise the welfare of war veterans’ widows.
They said most widows are struggling to make ends meet and need assistance from Government beyond the monthly pension entitled to war veterans.
In an interview at the provincial shrine in Gwanda on Monday, Mr Nqobizitha Sibanda, whose father was one of the first luminaries to be buried at the shrine said the welfare of war veterans’ widows needs to be looked into.
“My mother lives in the rural areas and I drove from Bulawayo to pick her up and bring her to the shrine. There’s something that’s missing because when we’re preparing for functions that have been budgeted for, it would seem the widows are not catered for. Those are the people we need to think of. There’s also need to constantly check on them, find out whether they have sufficient food or if they’re in good health. There’s need to check on where they live and if they’re adequately provided for,” said Mr Sibanda.
He said wives of war veterans also sacrificed a lot when their husbands left them to join the liberation struggle.
“The least we can do is to make sure their basic needs are catered for. It is not all widows who have well-up children who can take care of them, many need assistance from Government,” said Mr Sibanda.
Ms Evernice Chimwe whose father is also buried at the provincial shrine said it has become urgent to come up with programmes that specifically benefit widows of war veterans.
“There’s need to have programmes that are explicitly tailor-made for the widows. It seems they’re constantly forgotten. There’s a school fees facility for children of war veterans but what about widows that have no source of income. What are they supposed to survive on because the pension they receive is not enough?” said Ms Chimwe.
While Government is making efforts to cushion war veterans through various facilities, families said widows do not seem to be benefitting much.
Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Board chairman Retired Major-General Gibson Mashingaidze said in terms of Section 12 of the Act, war veterans are entitled to a basic monthly pension, education benefits, medical cover, 20 percent of land gazetted for resettlement and funeral grants.
“Veterans and their children are also entitled to education benefits at Government schools or educational institutions and in the event of them or their children attending school at non-governmental institutions, they are entitled to educational benefits equivalent in amount to the fees payable at Government schools or institutions. In addition, veterans, their spouses and children are entitled to full medical cover in the event of illness. In the unfortunate occurrence of death, families of deceased veterans are entitled to funeral grants. Finally, Veterans of the Liberation Struggle are entitled to 20 percent of land gazetted for resettlement,” said Rtd Major General Mashingaidze. – @Yolisswa
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