Govt slammed for neglecting war veterans’ welfare

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

Chief Reporter

A parliamentary committee has condemned the government for its failure to address the welfare of war veterans, citing neglect and disregard for their contributions to the country’s liberation.

The committee's report, presented by Member of Parliament Beitbridge East Constituency Albert Nguluvhe, highlighted the various challenges faced by war veterans, including lack of educational assistance, disrespect, and lack of economic empowerment.

“The Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs was guided by the provisions of the Act, which defines a dependant as a child who has not attained the age of 18 years,” the report stated.

“However, the petitioners found this definition restrictive, as it excludes children who are over 18 years and require fees assistance for higher and tertiary education.”

The report also noted that the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, and Rural Resettlement had failed to allocate the required 20% quota of gazetted State land to war veterans, resulting in illegal evictions and corruption.

“War veterans and their dependants were being evicted from allocated land, and the Ministry was not complying with the provisions of Section 21 (3) of the Veterans of Liberation Struggle Act,” the report said.

The committee expressed concern over the lack of respect and recognition for war veterans, despite the constitutional requirement to do so.

“The Act did not provide practical measures for the realisation and enjoyment of respect, honour, and recognition for war veterans,” the report stated.

The committee recommended that the Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs harmonise the Veterans of Liberation Struggle Act and Statutory Instrument 281 of 1997 by December 2024, to ensure that dependants who are over 18 years continue to access support for higher and tertiary education.

The committee also recommended that the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs submit an Amendment to the Constitution to provide for a quota in Senate for war veterans by June 2025.

In his contribution to the debate, Mudzi West legislator Knowledge Kaitano. Kaitano emphasised the need for the government to honour and recognise war veterans, citing examples from other countries.

“Our war veterans deserve our recognition,” he said.

“When we gather for Independence celebrations, it is a special day for them. They deserve special sitting places, and their cars should not be clamped for parking fees.”

He also called for tax holidays and import rebates for war veterans, saying: “Is it asking too much to ask them to have a tax rebate, an import rebate where they bring one car in their lifetime duty-free?”

Kaitano quoted from Galatians 6:7: “Whatsoever a man soweth, that he shall reap.”