War Veterans complain of deductions from allowances

Several Liberation War Veterans in Gwanda yesterday got the shock of their lives when they got to the banks to get their monthly allowances.

Huge different amounts of money had been deducted from their monthly allowances of $160.00 as loan repayments.

The amounts deducted ranged from between $60 and $100 depending on how much was owed by each person.

Reports indicate that the War Veterans were advanced loans by government ranging from $500 - $1000 in the run up to the elections.

The money was clearly spelt out as short term loan but some of the War Veterans thought the money was just another of the usual "windfalls" they always got in the run up to elections.

One War Veteran spoken to yesterday and preferred to be called Comrade Thathazonke or just "Thatha", said he was shocked when the bank told him he only had $30.00 in his account while he had a budget of $150.00.

He said he had taken a loan of $1000 from the "association" in June and never really thought it was going to be paid back.

"I got a $1000 loan and used most of it in the campaign for Zanu-PF in the run up to the election as I thought it was one of those windfalls we get before elections'" said Cde Thatha.

"I did not even tell my wife when the "loan" came through and used all of it on beer and campaign I don't know what I will say to my wife now."

Hundreds of War Veterans are reported to have gone on running battles in Harare yesterday as they held an "illegal" demonstration demanding to see their leadership after coming from the banks.

It is not immediately clear why the War Veterans were demonstrating in Harare but the possibility is it could have been over the loan deductions.