Veterans of the 1970s liberation struggle have slammed the
government for not fast-tracking the War Veterans Bill aimed at improving their
welfare amid reports that the majority of them were living in abject poverty.
Speaking at the burial of the late Robson Chipunza at
Mashonaland West Provincial Heroes Acre in Chinhoyi on Saturday, provincial war
veterans chairperson Cornelius Muoni said they could not afford standard
healthcare from their monthly pensions.
“It has taken too long for the Bill to be passed into law.
The process is very slow. While the former freedom fighters are dying daily
without enjoying their privileges of being treated, interestingly, some Bills
are fast-tracked into law overnight,” Muoni said.
“Like we are saying, our pensions should have been
increased in January this year just like civil servants, but up to now nothing
has been done,” Muoni said.
Chipunza, who died last week after a long illness, was
declared a provincial hero. Newsday
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