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Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Reporter

DEFENCE and War Veterans Affairs Deputy Minister Victor Matemadanda has assured ex-freedom fighters that the Government is committed to addressing their plight in recognition of their contribution to the country’s liberation struggle.

Addressing war veterans in Bulawayo on Friday, Cde Matemadanda, who is also the secretary-general of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), said veterans of the liberation struggle would be rewarded under the leadership of President Mnangagwa. 

He, however, said there was a need to cultivate a culture of engagement and dialogue among liberators instead of just blaming authorities for delays in addressing their challenges.

“As the secretary-general of the war veterans association I have all the reports about our challenges and resolutions and so forth but as liberators of this country we need to nurture a culture of engagement and dialogue instead of engaging in a blame game. Let’s have a long-suffering heart and be patient as the Government works on addressing our challenges,” he said.

Cde Matemadanda’s remarks follow complaints by war veterans during recent public hearings held at Luveve Hall in Bulawayo and Jahunda Hall in Gwanda by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services, that they were tired of empty promises.

Retired Brigadier Levi Mayihlome chairs the committee, which was on a fact finding mission to gather concerns of war veterans across the country. 

During the public hearings, the war veterans said they have nothing to show for their sacrifices and hard work, which brought independence. 

They said they hope that under the New Dispensation, Government would finally put in place effective policies to cater for their welfare.

The war veterans also said they were suffering from chronic illnesses which they developed during the liberation struggle but were failing to get quality health care services. 

Cde Matemadanda urged war veterans to participate in such consultations, saying it was part of the process of enacting a legislation to address their plight. 

“The difference between a fighter and a nationalist is that the latter has patience and they don’t tire and we therefore need to change our attitude as there are a lot of good things that we have done. We now have a Bill that has to be passed and that legal procedure has to be followed. You are aware that there was a parliamentary portfolio committee that visited Bulawayo recently, and those consultations are part of the process of enacting legislation. Our members should contribute instead of just complaining,” he said.

He said war collaborators will soon start to receive monthly pensions and other benefits like their counterparts, after the War Veterans of the Liberation Struggle (Rights and Benefits) Bill has been aligned to the Constitution. 

“I can assure you that the process of vetting war collaborators will not be long and we showed you a letter from the President for vetting, but unfortunately we couldn’t do it without going through the required parliamentary legal processes, which is why we stopped. The vetting process is almost over and we don’t want to repeat the same mistake that we did under the War Veterans Act as the process was not transparent,” he said.

“We have done a very good job because previously non-combatant cadres were sidelined. I can proudly say they have now been included and we can now proceed with the process of vetting them.” 

The War Veterans Act and the Ex-Political Prisoners, Detainees and Restrictees Act provides the framework for administering war veterans’ affairs. 

The Government has been vetting and registering war collaborators to ensure their eligibility for monthly pensions and other related benefits for their role during the armed struggle.

Cde Matemadanda also implored war veterans to emulate the late Vice-President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo by shunning tribalism.

He castigated MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa for creating chaos in the region through fomenting tribalism.

He urged war veterans, by virtue of being the liberators of the country, to play a leading role in championing unity among Zimbabweans, saying tribalism was detrimental to the development of the country.

“As war veterans you liberated this country from colonialists so that as Zimbabweans we live harmoniously and peacefully. We should preach love, peace and unity, a legacy that was left by Dr (Joshua Mqabuko) Nkomo and therefore we must not condone tribalism and war veterans should shun such tendencies. We should not allow brainless people like Nelson Chamisa to champion tribalism like what happened in Rwanda, which resulted in genocide and we know that such tendencies are driven by whites,” said Cde Matemadanda.

He said the MDC Alliance has failed to run urban councils in the country as evidenced by a collapse in service delivery in most cities and towns.

Cde Matemadanda slammed some traditional chiefs who dabble into politics and using the tribal trump card to divide people. 

“We have a very educated chief who supports Mthwakazi but this Mthwakazi thing has a tribal undertone. In Zimbabwe we don’t relate to each other through our tribes, but surnames. We should emulate our leaders like Joshua Nkomo who never tolerated tribalism,” he said. —@mashnets