By Staff Reporter
WAR Vets are set to air their concerns to President Emmerson Mnangagwa this Friday in a move set to ease mounting pressures emerging from the influential ruling Zanu-PF party arm.
Speaking to a state run mouthpiece ahead of the indaba Wednesday, ZANU PF Secretary for War Veterans, Ex-Political Prisoners, Detainees and Restrictees Cde Douglas Mahiya said the meeting will start at 10am with about 5 000 war veterans expected to attend.
President Mnangagwa will listen to the veterans and subsequently address the gathering.
“We intend to have this interface on the 6th of June at the City Sports Centre. We are expecting at least 4 500 to 5 000 war veterans that are going to come there. President Mnangagwa belongs to the constituency.”
Cde Mahiya highlighted the importance of regular meetings between members and the President.
A $1,5 million revolving fund has been availed for war veterans around the country with each province allocated at least US$150 000.
Further, war veterans have benefited from housing, solar-powered boreholes and bicycle schemes to improve their welfare.
Cde Mahiya said it is crucial for war veterans to meet the President to provide feedback and discuss potential increases in loan amounts under the revolving fund.
“We will discuss the effectiveness of the interest-free loan programme for war veterans. On average, each war veteran is expected to benefit with over 150 veterans in every province involved in income-generating projects. This initiative is ongoing, as the President mentioned,” said Cde Mahiya.
“The goal is for each province to have an average revolving fund of about US$1 million by June. While we may not reach that target, aiming for approximately US$500 000 dollars per province is feasible”.
He said up to 3 000 war veterans have received their share of the revolving fund.
“The fund continues to grow with the President’s support. While I don’t have exact figures, it’s estimated that about 2 000 to 3 000 war veterans have benefited, with some receiving larger amounts depending on their projects and repayment capabilities.
“Our goal is to unite all veterans, as we did during the liberation struggle, reinforcing their connection to the party”.
Cde Mahiya emphasised the need for unity among war veterans to safeguard the gains of independence and support the growth of the revolutionary party.
He said President Mnangagwa had previously called for the protection of land allocated to war veterans, yet reports of land repossession continued to surface.
“This practice must stop,” Cde Mahiya said, vowing to inform the President of their discontent.
He said war veterans will also express their gratitude for the recent title deed initiative, which reaffirmed the veterans’ right to land – a critical issue for those who had fought for it.
“The people of Zimbabwe went to war for land. Now, we must ensure they have access to it,” Cde Mahiya said.
He said there is a need to ensure school fees for children of war veterans are paid on time.
“Right now, some are three terms behind, so those are some of the issues we will put on the table”.
