Chronicle Editor
Midlands Bureau
THE Ministry for Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs has started rolling out stakeholder engagement and awareness campaigns on the National Heroes Act, which seeks to cater for the welfare of heroes’ dependants.
This follows the recent pronouncement by President Mnangagwa during Heroes Day Commemorations that the majority of war veterans were not aware of some benefits due to them and directed the ministry to embark on educational campaigns.
Speaking during an awareness campaign attended by war veterans, their widows, widowers, and children in Gweru on Monday, Commissioner of Heroes’ Dependants Assistance under the Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle, Ms Gladys Moyo, said they have started the nationwide awareness campaigns engaging war veterans and widows and widowers of the veterans of the struggle about their benefits.
“We have started the awareness campaigns for the National Heroes Act (NHA) intending to educate heroes dependants on their benefits, and entitlements after the President tasked the ministry to do so,” she said.
“We have noted that the majority of these cadres are not aware of these benefits and we will be going out in all provinces and districts to conscientise them of their rights under statutory benefits and inheritance law to promote their economic and social empowerment.”
Commissioner Moyo said the ministry has also engaged various stakeholders under the programme including relevant ministries to facilitate the educational campaigns on inheritance matters.
“We are also going to create a register and a database for all heroes’ dependants as prescribed by the Act. That is why we have also engaged the Ministry of Justice and Legal and Parliamentary Affairs through the Master of High Court responsible for inheritance matters,” she said.
Commissioner Moyo said the ministry has also set up a Heroes Dependency Board that will monitor the welfare of the heroes’ dependants and ensure that no one is left behind.
“We are being guided by the President’s call that no one should be left behind and the board will be monitoring all the processes and due diligence,” she said.
Speaking during the Heroes Day Commemorations in Harare recently, President Mnangagwa said widows, orphans and other heroes’ dependants have their benefits and should be accorded equal opportunities for social and economic empowerment such as health care and education.
He said the Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs is mandated to expedite the operationalisation of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act (Chapter 17:12), the National Heroes Act (Chapter 10:16), and the War Victims Compensation Act (Chapter 11:16)
The National Heroes Act (Chapter 10:16) guides the ministry and the public in ensuring that the legal rights and benefits of hero dependants are clearly understood, fairly administered, and implemented, which is in line with the National Development Strategy 1.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter