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Tinotenda Dominic
War veterans are the pillar on which Zimbabwe’s freedom is built.
They are a vital necessity in the sustenance of territorial integrity of Zimbabwe. A war veteran is a person who has served in the active military, naval, or air services.
A war veteran is the one who was discharged or released from service for other reasons other than dishonourable discharge.
This, therefore, puts to the fore that war veterans are honourable, principled and professional cadres.
The resistance by opposition CCC to recognise Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) as the cradle of Zimbabwe’s freedom while choosing to label them as a Zanu PF vote buying card is misplaced.
The ZNLWVA also includes former members of the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) who failed to get attested into the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) in 1980 for various reasons, which included disability due loss of limps in war and age of recruitment.
After Zimbabwe’s independence on April 18, 1980, both ZANLA and ZIPRA forces were weaned off from both Zanu PF and PF Zapu respectively to become the sole responsibility of the new democratic Government.
Links by members to political parties was strictly on a personal level and or organisational level.
It is also important to note that the majority of the war veterans were not card carrying members of either Zanu PF or PF Zapu nor were they required to do so.
Needless to say, they were registered as members of the party’s armed wings and not the political parties.
All that was required of them was to fight for the liberation of the black majority.
Unlike the political mischief that the opposition parties would have citizens believe, the primary role of the war veterans entailed waging war against the illegal racist minority Smith regime and to defeat the Rhodesian forces.
Their political role as fighters was to contest for democracy, self-determination and liberation for all masses of Zimbabweans without tribal or political bias.
During the war, freedom fighters also fostered a culture of engaging and involving the masses to support the liberation struggle.
CCC interim spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere’s statement to commemorate Heroes Day, where she acknowledged the sacrifices of soldiers, war veterans, collaborators and citizens who contributed immensely towards the attainment of independence in 1980 was shocking.
Mahere turned political and said war veterans had not liberated the country and thus they are a political card for ruling Zanu PF.
She also said only the CCC deserved to be called liberators as the party would liberate Zimbabwe in 2023.
It is sad that such an informed person like Mahere, a lawyer by profession, would want to drive such a narrative in Zimbabwe.
Another point to deduce from her careless utterances is that this misguided statement can only be made by an individual who pretend not to know about the selfless sacrifices made by the war veterans.
In a vote buying attempt, CCC leader Nelson Chamisa, announced that his party had a special package that would be offered to veterans of the liberation struggle.
By saying so, Chamisa is either trying to ridicule the war veterans or that he is not informed that ZNLWVA is solely Government’s responsibility and not a political party’s responsibility.
Chamisa’s utterances also defeat the principles these gallant sons and daughters of the land fought for.
Although the ZNLWVA members have a right to belong to any political party they so wish, their mother body still remains a non-political wing which should be treated as such.
Contrary to Chamisa’s attempts to try and politicise ZNLWVA through promising special packages to war veterans, the ruling Zanu PF has decided to honour and recognise these gallant sons and daughters and are within its ranks and files.
In 2019, Zanu PF secretary for war veterans, Cde Douglas Mahiya, during the 333rd Session of the Politburo said the ruling party had decided to rejuvenate itself by creating and recognising a war veterans wing within its structures.
Cde Mahiya said this move was not foreign in SADC as most political parties had revolutionary wings.
On Friday and Saturday, war veterans within Zanu PF will be hosting their conference to select 40 candidates who will be their leaders.
The affairs of the ZNLWVA do, however, remain solely for Government.
Government has over the years been looking after the welfare of war veterans.
In 1997, war veterans were given $50 000 each in gratuities by Government.
There are also plans of a once off payment and pensions to war veterans, collaborators and ex-political prisoners who missed out on the first round of compensation in 1997.
It should be noted that ZNLWVA is a professional body with setup principles and a constitution that also entails defending Zimbabwe’s territorial integrity irrespective of political affiliation.
ZNLWVA is thus a professional security organ which should not be viewed as a political card, but rather should be embraced as the pillar and foundation from which our Zimbabwe Defence Forces were born.
Online Reporter