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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
WAR veterans from Matabeleland South Province have said they expect the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Bill to address issues of their welfare by ensuring that they are given a stake in various sectors of the economy.
Speaking during a public hearing on the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Bill (2019) with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security in Gwanda yesterday, war veterans from Matabeleland South said they expected to be allocated land and to have houses built for them in urban centres.
Matabeleland South Provincial War Veterans Association Chairman, Cde Section Ncube, said the Bill needed to stipulate that all war veterans be allocated a 20 percent portion across sectors of the economy.
“We want to be allocated 20 percent across all sectors in the country. We have to benefit from the resources that we fought so hard to acquire. Up to today many war veterans don’t have houses or land which they fought for. Every war veteran has to be given a house in urban centres or Government has to put in place a scheme where houses will be built for war veterans. We also should be given land as war veterans free of charge.
“There must be a facility which allows war veterans to access medication whenever they need it. Some of the fighters of the liberations struggle developed some illnesses during the war and today they can’t access medical services because they can’t afford them yet they put their lives and health on the line to ensure that people get access to these health care services,” he said.
Cde Ncube said school fees for children of war veterans needed to be paid every term and on time.
He said contrary to a clause in the Bill that the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs should appoint members of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Board, they had to be selected by war veterans from various provinces.
Cde Ncube said people living with disabilities also needed to be included in the board.
An ex detainee, Cde Rido Mpofu, said there was a need for the age limit for children who are dependents of war veterans to be increased from 18 years.
He said money that was given to widows of war veterans had to be the same as that which was being given to war veterans while alive.
Cde Mpofu said there was a need for war veterans’ allowances to be revised.
Mrs Margaret Ncube, who is a war veteran, said there was a need for a stand-alone Ministry to be established for war veterans.
War veterans also called for medical and dental benefits which would allow them access to specialist services. They said they had already paid the price through blood shed in liberation.
Chairing the meeting, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security member who is also the Member of Parliament for Bubi Constituency, Cde Sonny Key Mguni, said the committee was moving across provinces capturing views of war veterans on the Bill.
He said two teams had been deployed to conduct the public hearings and once their views had been captured, they would be presented to Parliament.
He said the Bill was from Government and it was the duty of the Parliamentary Committee to present it to the people so they could have an input.
Cde Mguni said the Bill was concerned with the welfare of war veterans.
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security member who is also Member of Parliament for Beitbridge East Cde Albert Nguluvhe unpacked the contents of the Bill to war veterans.
The purpose of the Bill is to provide for rights and benefits of veterans of the liberation struggle and their dependents, to provide for the establishment of a Veterans on the Liberation Struggle Board and its functions.
It also seeks to provide for the establishment of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Fund, to repeal the War Veterans Act (Chapter 11:15), to repeal the Ex-Political Prisoners, Detainees and Restrictees Act (Chapter 17:10) and to provide for matters incidental to or connected with the foregoing.
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee will conduct hearings in Bulawayo at Entumbane and Nketa community halls today. — @DubeMatutu
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