adminAS surviving members of the former Zipra High Command, we have been following the meetings by Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa (Minister of War Veterans Affairs). We think the meetings usually turn out to be political rallies than addressing the plight of the war veterans.
We say so because different groups have different challenges that require the minister’s attention. Therefore, the minister must address the different groups (war vets, war collaborators, ex-detainees, etc) separately. We believe that different groups face different challenges.
However, as surviving commanders of the former liberation armies (Zipra/Zanla), we believe we are the bona fide leaders of all war veterans and can properly represent the war veterans (not only members of the ZNLWVA) better. Addressing war veterans’ problems needs participation of these commanders, not all those who hold high ranks in Government or any of its departments today, because some of them have no clue what war veterans went through during Zimbabwe’s war of liberation, hence their arrogance sometimes.
The war time commanders will represent all those who offered themselves 24/7 for the liberation of Zimbabwe. All those are war vets of the liberation war. It is treacherous to call them by any other name. The minister when finding a solution to problems affecting war veterans should consult surviving commanders of our liberation war, not the chairperson of the ZNLWVA. He can meet them separately as chairperson of ZNLWVA. War veterans came back from the war with their leaders. Leaders who were chosen for their self-service. We should not invent new leaders for them. They have tried and tested leaders. These other leaders voted into office spend most of their time fighting each other instead of looking at the plight of war veterans. What a pathetic sight! Maybe the minister should stop and find out WHO was WHO during our war of liberation among some of these organisation’s leaders.
ZNLWVA represents the war veterans who are paid up members of the ZNLWVA only. ZNLWA is a private organisation formed by a group of war veterans. Therefore, leaders of ZNLWVA are not leaders of all war veterans but a section of war veterans guided by a constitution crafted to suit its aspirations and objectives.
ZNLWVA leaders win votes through popularity with their electorate (members of the Zimbabwe War Veterans Association). Most of the popularity is not related to their contribution during our war of liberation. Their popularity is derived from different issues sometimes, including vote buying, hence the continuous infighting within the organisation. Commanders of our war of liberation became commanders because of their contribution to the war effort. They commanded all those who were involved in the Zimbabwe war of liberation, including members of the ZNLWVA.
It is unfortunate that our legislative bodies did not consult with the commanders of our liberation war in the process of drafting the War Veteran’s Act. When our minister goes countrywide addressing war veterans accompanied by the chairpersons of ZNLWVA in the absence of the war veterans, one wonders whether the minister has a bias towards an affiliate of the Zimbabwe war veterans. By right he should be accompanied by commanders of our liberation war, unless if he is putting on his chairman’s hat.
Another critical concern is that, we feel that the minister should intervene in the issue of heroes’ status declaration of the war veterans. We feel this responsibility should be given to a committee composed of commanders of the war appointed by the surviving members of the high command of both Zipra and Zanla under the guidance of the Head of State, President Mugabe. Giving the above responsibility to the offices of the ZNLWVA disfranchises the rest of the war veterans, because to be a member of the ZNWLVA one must qualify to be a war vet, according to the War Veterans Act.
According to the Act, one is a war veteran if he/she was militarily trained as a combatant before 18 April 1980, provided he/she did not join Rhodesian Forces before 18 April 1980. This means all those who after training deserted, qualify as long as they did not join Rhodesian Forces. A person who on arrival in Zambia/Mozambique was tasked to perform a duty that deprived him/her of an opportunity to go for military training but performed those duties till 18 April 1980, according to the Act, is less of a freedom fighter than the military trained deserter. Worse still an enemy who infiltrated Zipra/Zanla and succeeded to go through military training is a veteran of our liberation war. Please comrade minister, give us our right to be proud of being war veterans.
Another issue that the minister should address is why up to today, 35 years after the attainment of the independence, the majority of war veterans do not have a single medal to show that they participated in the liberation war. This has turned the war veterans into strangers at Independence and Heroes Day functions. They watch some people who did not bother to lift a finger for the liberation of the nation including those who fought against our liberation struggle wine and dine at the top table while they watch the spectacle from afar. They do not have anything to relate them to the liberation of Zimbabwe. What we ask for is the minister to fight for the recognition of these patriotic sons and daughters of Zimbabwe. The honour of recognition on these days should not only be prerogative of a few war veterans who occupy high positions in Government, some of whom were juniors during the war. Comrade Minister please do not let people dance on our blood.
The other thing is to fight for the betterment of war veterans’ lives. The minister should not suggest a pie in the sky, instead he should bring forward achievable solutions to the war veterans problems.
We suggest the following solutions:
- War veterans be given first priority in house waiting list in urban areas.
- War veterans be exempted from any land taxation.
- War veterans be exempted from paying duty on commercial vehicles brought into Zimbabwe.
- War veterans be assisted through the uniformed forces to acquire accommodation and those who already have been assisted to increase living space (extend).
- A consultative/advisory board composed of former commanders of the war of our liberation be seconded to the ministry.
- Children or dependants of war veterans given a quota in the presidential scholarship.
- War veterans should be organised into committees to fight corruption in their respective areas.
- The minister needs to engage powers that be and look at the war vet’s pensions.
It should concern the minister to find out the progress of promotion of war veterans in the public sector 35 years after they liberated Zimbabwe, and installed a people’s Government. It will be interesting to find out that some comrades still work under former defenders of Rhodesian Government. The minister may also discover that Rhodies are being promoted at the expense of former Freedom Fighters.
The commemoration of the Heroes’ Day should reflect that Zimbabwe was liberated by a torturous armed struggle. On the day the Head of State addresses the nation in commemoration of Heroes Day we will be proud to see him seated with commanders of our liberation war. This is the day that Zimbabwe should give it to them. After all it is these comrades who when Zimbabwe was bleeding for colonial oppression stood up and put their lives on the line as a price for its liberation.
nRetired Brigadier-General Abel Mazinyane and Retired Colonel Buster Magwizi are surviving members of the Zipra High Command. This statement was issued by them on behalf of the Zipra High Command.
Online Reporter