Online Reporter
Gibson Nyikadzino-Zimpapers Politics Hub
The Second Republic has been hailed for moving beyond rhetoric to fulfilling promises made to war veterans and implementing action-oriented initiatives that have positively improved their welfare and business acumen, Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs Minister Senator Monica Mavhunga said yesterday.
Ahead of the Heroes Day commemorations next Monday, Senator Mavhunga praised President Mnangagwa for providing support and direction towards emancipatory programmes that generate sustainable revenue for war veterans through the Veterans Fund.
She said the initiatives are not only capacitating war veterans with business skills and knowledge, but ensuring that they translate their knowledge to benefit the economy and improve livelihoods.
“The Second Republic moved beyond promises and moved a step further from where we had statutory benefits for war veterans to the institutionalisation of empowering projects under the Veterans Investment Holding Company (VIHC).
“Under the VIHC, we are unlocking economic value through companies and projects that are being undertaken by war veterans spanning operating safaris, animal husbandry projects, mines, and farms. The institutionalised projects under the Second Republic across key economic sectors are generating sustainable revenue for the war veterans,” Senator Mavhunga said.
The VIHC was established to bridge the gap between intention and impact, and is tasked with creating structured revenue-generating projects that directly benefit veterans of the struggle and their dependants.
Furthermore, Government has also engaged the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) to train and equip war veterans with skills and knowledge to venture into projects that are bankable.
Senator Mavhunga said at least 200 war veterans have been equipped with skills through the ZIDA partnership.
“So far at least 200 war veterans have undergone skills training with ZIDA on bankable projects. We thank Government because this is a critical contribution that helps direct efforts of war veterans into the mainstream economy.
“Besides the projects that are under the VIHC, some war veterans have their farms and mines, they will find this training useful,” Senator Mavhunga added.
Senator Mavhunga also commended the Second Republic for spearheading the memorialisation of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle through modern digital formats for distribution in schools and museums.
She emphasised the need for the memory of Zimbabwe’s history to be kept alive for posterity’s sake through books, documentaries, films and digital formats that can be accessed by young people.
“For memorialisation of our history, we are working with relevant ministries under a committee headed by the Office of the President and Cabinet where there is a Heritage Fund to restore all sites where the remains of our heroes are interred.
“There is material about the liberation struggle that needs to be digitised so that schools and museums can access it and can be used when teaching about the history of Zimbabwe.”
This year’s National Heroes Day commemorations will be held under the theme, “Lest We Forget” and Government is set to honour 50 000 war veterans with medals.
Senator Mavhunga said names of the recipients have been identified and Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs will preside over the handing over of medals.
“Our preparations are at an advanced stage as we are going to honour our war veterans. Each province will honour 5 000 war veterans with medals and their names have already been submitted. Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs will preside over these ceremonies in each province,” Senator Mavhunga said.
The main Heroes Day commemorations will be held at the National Heroes Acre and Zimbabwe currently has a recorded total 254 fallen heroes.
While it is absolutely prudent to look after this section of our population, we must NEVER forget that the war was fought by a lot more people. Without the entire rural population of this country the war wouldn’t have been successful. The idea of treating war veterans differently when a lot of us were also in it is hypocrisy. The fish and water concept has been thrown out of the window. Now the fish is more important than the water. There are so many people that are still struggling to recover after all their resources were put into the struggle for liberation. Now war veterans are defined by holding of the gun only, not the food that was eaten, not the protection that was provided, not the clothes that were won, not the information that helped avoid the enemies, not the labour that was given to moving materials and not the moral support that was ushered. It gives a sick feeling in one’s stomach!