Online Reporter
Obey Musiwa in Bulawayo
The Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs, together with the RedRev Youth Empowerment Fund, toured exhibition stands at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo on Thursday, highlighting programmes designed to transform welfare support into sustainable socio-economic empowerment for war veterans, their dependents, and youth.
The initiative, backed by Government and partners, is not only about housing and welfare but about repositioning veterans and their families as active contributors to national development.
By integrating them into mainstream economic value chains, the programmes aim to ensure inclusive participation and create opportunities for the next generation.
Speaking to Zimpapers, Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs Minister Monica Mavhunga said the Ministry is shifting from welfare dependency to sustainable empowerment, enabling veterans to become drivers of economic growth.
“We are showcasing a transformative shift from a welfare-based approach to a sustainable socio-economic empowerment model for veterans of the liberation struggle.
“Our participation demonstrates how veterans are being repositioned as active economic contributors to national development,”said Minister Mavhunga.
She also emphasised that veterans are being repositioned as active economic contributors.
She said the Ministry is building competitive enterprises that integrate into national value chains and strengthen inclusive development towards Vision2030.
“Our participation speaks directly to the ZITF theme by highlighting how we are integrating veterans into mainstream economic value chains in agriculture, mining, tourism, and energy.
“We are building competitive, commercially viable enterprises owned and driven by veterans,”she said.
Heroes’ Dependents Assistance Commissioner Gladys Moyo said the department is mandated to provide welfare services to children of war veterans, ensuring their access to education, healthcare, and support.
“The mandate for this Heroes’ Dependents Department is drawn from the National Heroes’ Act, Chapter 10:16.”
“We provide assistance in terms of medical, educational, and any incidental support for children born from war veterans,”she said.
Director of Projects under the Ministry of Veterans of Liberation Struggle Affairs Mr Ernest Chetse said capacity development programmes are equipping veterans, widows, and children with practical skills to sustain livelihoods and support aging parents.
“Our capacity development programmes target war veterans, widows, and children of war veterans, who will then help their parents in terms of capacity development.
“Whether the training programme is in day keeping or other skills, we expect the children to assist their parents, because the parents are a bit old,”said Mr Chitse.
RedRev Youth Empowerment Fund, operations and administration officer Cde Allot Muzimbaranda said the fund is empowering youth and dependents of war veterans through housing projects, access to loans, and partnerships with Government and financial institutions.
“RedRev Empowerment Fund was established in 2018 by the children of war veterans with the sole purpose of empowering the youth and also the children of war veterans.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to His Excellency President Mnangagwa for initiating the Munhumutapa Fund, which is very essential and significant in empowering the youth.”
