Online Reporter
Richard Muponde
Zimpapers Politics Hub
THE exhumation and dignified reburial of former freedom fighters buried in mass and unmarked graves in and outside the country has received a major boost after Cabinet approved a Bill that will make the process a constitutional matter, including the repatriation of remains.
Exhumations and burials were mainly being carried out by voluntary organisations of former freedom fighters and spirit mediums such as the Fallen Heroes Trust of Zimbabwe (FHTZ), with minimal Government involvement.
Calls have been growing louder for the Government to intervene and fund the process, which has taken over 46 years to bring to finality.
This Wednesday, Cabinet approved the Principles of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Amendment Bill, which were presented by the Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs, Senator Monica Mavhunga. The Bill aims to amend the existing law to enhance the welfare of beneficiaries, including the departed liberation fighters.
In a Post-Cabinet briefing, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said the amendments will broaden access to benefits for both the living former freedom fighters and the fallen liberation fighters.
“The amendment will also provide a clear framework for the exhumation, repatriation and dignified reburial of veterans who perished during the liberation struggle,” Dr Muswere said.
“Furthermore, the amendments will broaden access to benefits and recognition for eligible individuals and their dependants.”
He said the objective of amending the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act [Chapter 17:12] is to enhance the welfare of beneficiaries, modernise the legislative framework and align the Act with the Constitution.
“Under the proposed amendment, Botswana will be recognised among the Liberation Struggle transit camps through the revision of the definition of ‘non-combatant cadre,” he said.
Cabinet also considered and approved the Principles of the War Victims Compensation Bill, which seeks to improve the welfare of beneficiaries by establishing a dedicated War Victims Compensation Board to manage the affairs of war victims.
This is one of the key recommendations of the Zimbabwe Commission of Inquiry into the Administration of the War Victims Compensation Act.
Dr Muswere said the Principles of the National Heroes Amendment Bill were also adopted. The amendments seek to enhance the welfare of beneficiaries under the Act and refine the categories of heroes and heroines to more accurately reflect their diverse contributions to the nation.
The National Heroes Act [Chapter 11:16] is the primary legislation for recognising individuals as National Heroes for their exceptional contribution to the liberation of Zimbabwe.
This comes as preparations are underway for the burial of 36 Zipra cadres this weekend at the Grand Parade Farm Shrine in Hurungwe. The slain cadres were exhumed in Sanyati and Hurungwe respectively.
FHTZ chairman, Dr Arthur Makanda, whose organisation made submissions to Government on the matter, said they were upbeat as they were seeing progress on their proposal.
“We are happy we are seeing movement on our submission and we hope all the fallen heroes and heroines will be included in the amended Act, and families of the fallen combatants will receive benefits. This includes children of war veterans, especially those whose parents died before 1997 and those who fell during the struggle. This will also enhance our thrust to demand reparations from the erstwhile colonisers.
“For the War Victims Compensation, we applaud the formation of the War Victims Compensation Board. We stand ready to make our input in the discussions of the two Acts as they are amended.”
According to FHTZ statistics, more than 5 000 fallen liberation war heroes have been exhumed from mass graves scattered across the country and have been decently reburied since the programme started in the early 1990s.
