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The First Lady Amai Dr Grace Mugabe yesterday paid tribute to Manicaland province for selflessly giving many sons and daughters who joined the liberation struggle in neighbouring Mozambique to fight for the independence of Zimbabwe.
Addressing thousands of people at Mutambara Mission in Chimanimani, Dr Amai Mugabe said the history of the liberation struggle was important and the founding values, which forced people to take up arms and face the enemy should be instilled in everyone.
“Today I am in Manicaland. This province is important to us in a number of ways. One of the ways is its proximity to Mozambique, which welcomed and accommodated freedom fighters. Thank you very much Manicaland. So many people from this province left the comfort of their homes to join the struggle,’’ said the First Lady who added she was visiting Manicaland in her capacity as Zanu-PF Secretary for Women’s League.
Dr Amai Mugabe said Zimbabweans should appreciate the selfless deeds of the war veterans.
She described the recent move by President Mugabe of establishing a ministry for freedom fighters, the Ministry of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees, whose minister is Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa, as a wise move.
“Compensating war veterans has not yet started, they deserve better than what they got some time back when the government compensated them. But you sometimes hear people complaining why they (war veterans) are being given money but I should say, they even deserve more.
“As we all know, our freedom fighters did not get much compensation and the little that they got is not enough for the great job that they did in fighting for our freedom.
We should be grateful for what they did for us,’’ she said.
The First Lady urged the masses to educate their children on the importance of the freedom fighters and on how Zimbabwe attained its independence in 1980.
She said there were so many people who were in need of land but bemoaned failure by some farmers to fully utilise their pieces of land. She urged farmers with idle land to come forward because the land would be repossessed and redistributed.
Manicaland, said Dr Amai Mugabe, was a lucky province because it had the most cabinet ministers in Government.
“Do you know that you have seven cabinet minsters in Government? There is no other province with such a number of ministers. For example, in Mashonaland Central where I am doing most of my works, there are only three,” she said to a thunderous applause.
The First Lady hailed the people of Manicaland for choosing educated representatives, which made it easy for President Mugabe when appointing ministers. Dr Amai Mugabe advised the people of Chimanimani to stop deforestation and encouraged them to instead plant more trees.
Those present at the First Lady’s rally included Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko , Zanu-PF national political commissar, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, Senate President Edna Madzongwe, Acting Manicaland Zanu PF chairperson Cde Samuel Undenge, Zanu-PF Politburo Members Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and Cde Supa Mandiwanzira, Deputy Secretary for Women’s League Cde Sandi Moyo, the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Cde Chris Mushohwe and Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Mandi Chimene.
Online Reporter