Isaiah Ncube

GWERU – Zimbabwe’s fighters of the liberation struggle are appealing to government to give them full compensation so that they can fund their projects.

The war veterans were speaking during a public hearing organised by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Defence, Home Affairs, War Veterans and Security Forces in Gweru recently. They were presenting a petition from children of war veterans and heroes’ dependents forum on the constitutional rights and benefits of economic empowerment for war veterans and their dependents.

The war veterans and their dependents did not mince their words prompting the committee chairperson Albert Nguluvhe to call for order on numerous occasions. Mugove Gift Chatikopo pleaded with the government to give liberation fighters a once-off compensation.

The government must give liberation fighters a once-off compensation than these petty monthly benefits which are making it difficult for them to meet their obligations.

The fighters sacrificed their lives for the country to gain independence which they are not fully enjoying today. They should be given money that can be used to start up income-generating projects, said Chatikopo.

Retired Colonel Makuyana pleaded with the government to consider confirming hero status on former liberation fighters soon after death to avoid complications and delays in accessing benefits by dependents.

The government must confirm heroes’ statuses on fallen heroes as soon as they die for families to get their benefits in time, said Ret Col Makuyana.

Tapiwa Machovha, son of a late hero, gave testimony of his father's hero’s status which was confirmed 25 years after his death.

My father’s hero status was confirmed after 25 years of his death and the whole family and dependents had to endure for the two and half decades of poverty. This must change with immediate effect, said Machovha.