Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Sunday News Reporter
THE Government is accelerating empowerment initiatives for veterans of the liberation struggle and has unveiled a loan scheme where they can access US$1 000 to finance income-generating projects among a range of empowerment projects meant to capacitate them.
Addressing hundreds of veterans of the struggle at an interface meeting at Stanley Square in Bulawayo’s Makokoba suburb yesterday, Minister of Veterans of the Struggle Monica Mavhunga, said the Government is committed to uplifting their lives by ensuring that they benefit from a range of projects across several sectors of the economy.
The meeting was part of a national outreach programme that started in Mashonaland Central Province and proceeded to Mashonaland West, Midlands, Masvingo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces.
“The interface meetings provide a valuable feedback mechanism that informs our planning and programming. Government is encouraged by your resilience and innovation, as many of you have been implementing initiatives individually and collectively despite resource constraints,” she said.
“There is a project-based loan facility being administered by POSB. The Scheme is meant to finance your small income-generating projects where veterans can access a maximum of US$1 000 loan payable in the local currency at the prevailing bank rates.
“To date, 1 461 veterans have benefitted from this loan scheme since its inception in 2021 and I encourage my fellow comrades to apply for these loans.”
On housing, Government has availed 322 residential stands for allocation to war veterans across the country.
“In addition, 100 vending stalls were allocated to the veterans’ community at the newly built Mbare Traders’ Market in Harare and we encourage local authorities to always honour the 20 percent quota for war veterans in future allocations,” said Minister Mavhunga.
To ensure that veterans of the struggle are not left out in skills training programmes, Government has ensured that they are part of training workshops in entrepreneurship and income generating projects.
“The ministry recognises that sustainable empowerment requires skills development, training and entrepreneurship and we have trained war veterans nationwide in various income-generating projects including beekeeping, detergent making and fish farming among others,” said Minister Mavhunga.
She said last year, 1 356 war veterans were trained in these areas.
“This year, 450 veterans of the struggle have received training in livestock management in Maphisa ahead of the Independence Day celebrations,” said Minister Mavhunga.
She said the Government was not satisfied with the figures of veterans of the struggle, who occupy land for agricultural purposes.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Lands and Rural Development, war veterans currently occupy only eight percent of land designated for agricultural purposes.
“This is significantly below the 20 percent threshold provided for in the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act and as a result a substantial number of war veterans remain without access to land,” said Minister Mavhunga.
She said her ministry has so far received requests for land from 2 220 war veterans and added that engagements are ongoing with the Ministry of Lands and Rural Development to facilitate allocations.
“War veterans have also faced persistent cases of victimisation on their farms as to date the ministry has managed to resolve 214 disputes out of 647 recorded cases. Furthermore, ministry records indicate that 702 veterans were settled on farms without permits,” said Minister Mavhunga.
She urged war veterans to be active participants in the mining sector and its mineral value chain.
“Sixty mining titles were issued to war veterans in 2025, while eight Special Grants were approved by His Excellency, President Mnangagwa for registration,” said Minister Mavhunga.
In an interview on the sidelines of the interface meeting, several war veterans hailed the event as a vital communication platform but raised a number of issues that they said Government must resolve.
Cde Edna Sihlangu (79) of Magwegwe North pleaded with the Government to increase their monthly pension.
“Our pensions are the only source of income for the majority war veterans and we ask the Government to increase the pension. After paying our utility bills, we are left without much to go by for the rest of the month,” said Cde Sihlangu.
Cde Similo Ndlovu said: “Our children are facing problems at colleges and poly techniques where they enrolled because they are told that Government has not paid the institutions since 2024”
Bongani Ndlovu