Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
ZANU-PF Secretary for War Veterans Affairs Cde Douglas Mahiya has urged war veterans to set aside differences and unite in driving the country’s economic transformation agenda towards Vision 2030.
Speaking during the Matabeleland South War Veterans League provincial conference in Gwanda last Wednesday, Cde Mahiya said the liberation struggle was not over, with the focus now shifting from political independence to economic emancipation.
He said the establishment of the War Veterans League by President Mnangagwa demonstrated the importance attached to the role of liberation war veterans in national development.
Cde Mahiya urged members of the War Veterans League and the War Veterans Association to work together instead of engaging in divisions over the two structures.
“We shouldn’t waste our time arguing amongst ourselves on who is superior and debating on the league and association. We want to work together for Zanu-PF, for our Government and ultimately for our country,” he said.
He said the two structures should complement each other as they shared a common goal of developing the country.
“The war veterans league and association are both Zanu-PF. Let’s complement each other and not fight each other because at the end of the day our goal is to develop the country. We started this movement when we liberated the country and the work is still continuing and now our target is economic emancipation through attainment of Vision 2030,” said Cde Mahiya.
He said war veterans had a responsibility to protect the country’s independence and national interests while contributing ideas towards economic development.
Cde Mahiya said the Zanu-PF constitution mandated war veterans to protect the interests of the party and its leadership, adding that failure by some veterans to support the party undermined the country’s development agenda.
He also encouraged veterans to take advantage of Government empowerment programmes instead of relying entirely on assistance.
“We have to embrace these empowerment initiatives brought to us. We should depart from having a beggar’s mentality. Let’s work hard and not wait to be spoon fed. We can be given a boost but let’s also go an extra mile and put some effort ourselves,” he said.
Cde Mahiya said Government had made progress in improving the welfare of liberation war veterans through the establishment of the Department of War Veterans and a dedicated ministry.
He said the structures were also intended to cater for detainees, non-combatant cadres, widows and children of veterans of the liberation struggle.
He urged war veterans to make use of the War Veterans Family Wealth Trust, which he said was designed to economically empower veterans and their families while safeguarding their welfare beyond their lifetime.
Cde Mahiya also highlighted the War Veterans Revolving Fund and the War Veterans Mechanisation Programme as key initiatives aimed at improving the economic wellbeing of former liberation fighters.
He said empowering the children of war veterans was equally important to ensure that families of liberation fighters remained active participants in the national economy.
Cde Mahiya commended President Mnangagwa for supporting war veterans since the establishment of the War Veterans League in 2022, saying Government had demonstrated its commitment to addressing their welfare concerns.
Also speaking at the conference, Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe said war veterans and war collaborators still had an important role to play in defending the country and supporting national development.
He said efforts should continue to ensure that liberation war veterans received recognition for their contribution to Zimbabwe’s independence.
Minister Nguluvhe urged war veterans to remain actively involved in national development and serve as the “eyes and ears” of the party at grassroots level.
He also assured the veterans that he would attend to issues falling within his jurisdiction.
