Government has set aside at least 500 hectares of land in
each province to support income-generating projects for former freedom
fighters.
The move is part of President Mnangagwa’s unwavering
support for the liberation war veterans across the country.
Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah
Muchinguri-Kashiri has since written letters to Ministers of State for
Provincial Affairs across the country instructing them to identify 500ha farms
to be used for war veteran’s income-generating projects whose proceeds would be
channeled into a revolving fund meant to cater for their welfare.
Addressing a Mashonaland West provincial war veterans
meeting in Karoi recently, Provincial Affairs Minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka
confirmed receiving the instruction.
“A letter came to my office that each province should
identify and allocate war veterans a farm measuring more than 500 hectares,
even the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association provincial
chairperson Cde Cornelius Muoni is aware of the development.
“The farm will be used for income generating projects to
cater for their welfare, so l am currently looking for a suitable place of 500
hectares in the province for the war veterans,” she said.
Minister Mliswa-Chikoka, however, challenged the liberation
fighters to play a leading role in reviving the country’s economy.
“War veterans have a spirit of fighting, but now we are
living in the phase of economic war. It’s no longer that of guns that one can
be won easily as everyone will just be given a gun and start firing, but the
economic war is hard because it communicates directly through the stomach.
“President Mnangagwa is striving day and night to
resuscitate the economy, but there are detractors frustrating his efforts. Let
us be wary of these people in our societies.
“War veterans are our mouthpiece and spokesmen but they are
sometimes humiliated, but they have remained resolute something which we
applaud them for, but the economic fight calls for unity,” she said.
Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said there was also need to address
issues around the relationship between the war veterans and Government so that
they pull together.
Meanwhile, Cde Muoni reiterated the war veterans’ support
for President Mnangagwa adding that they will continue fostering good working
relationships with the Zanu-PF-led Government.
“We want the President to know that we are firmly behind
his leadership, but if there exists bitterness on one side because war veterans
are being looked down upon, it’s not good. Herald
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