Government has the interest of War Veterans

The recent sentiments by the ousted former Liberation War Veterans leader, Jabulani Sibanda that President Mugabe does not care about the welfare of war veterans should not be tolerated at all.

It is of paramount importance to note that the Government is and has been doing a number of projects toward improving the war veterans' standards of living.
 
When tracking back at the history of the welfare of the war liberators, in 1996, the Government enacted the War Veterans Act to cater for the welfare of the former fighters. The Act was meant to provide for the establishment of schemes for the provision of assistance to war veterans and their dependants; to provide for the establishment of a fund to finance such assistance… (War Veterans Act: Chapter 11:15, 1996)

A lot has been done for the freedom fighters by President Mugabe. President Mugabe, who is the patron of the war veterans, understands so much the well being of these freedom fighters. Firstly, War veterans were awarded each ZW$50 000, then a fortune, in 1997 as gratuities by President Robert Mugabe's Government. On top of that gratuity, President Mugabe also agreed to pay the war veterans Z$2000 monthly pensions as well as provisions for health, education and burial.

Honestly, If President Mugabe did not care about the welfare of the war veterans; these war liberators could not have received such a gratuity.

Just like in other countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Angola, where there are Ministries of War Veterans, last year President Mugabe unveiled the Ministry of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, former Political Detainees and Restrictees which caters for the well being and interests of freedom fighters.

This Ministry is currently headed by Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa.

It is also pleasing that above the pensions that the war liberators receive every month, the war veterans were also privileged to be given farming land.

As it stands, poor Sibanda is failing to appreciate the efforts that Government is making in gratifying the living standards of war veterans. As a true revolutionary war veterinary, Sibanda should be quite aware of these entire gratuities. Before he was expelled from the ruling party, Sibanda enjoyed some of these benefits that came from the revolutionary party.

Also, Mr Sibanda should be encouraged to use the correct channel of expressing his grievances. Unfortunately, Sibanda is turning a blind eye to the law.  It would be wiser for Sibanda to direct his concerns to the responsible Ministry rather than waffling in the press.  

Truth be told, the grapes have suddenly turned sour for the axed renegade war veterans leader. The fact that Sibanda was expelled from ZANU-PF can act as a full testimony that it's really cold outside the ruling party. The revolutionary party was very correct when it expelled Sibanda. By expelling Sibanda, ZANU-PF saw it that the man was incompetent and his behavior was so incommensurate.

Sibanda's utterances just depict how foolish the man is. During his tenure as the boss of war liberators, it is reported that Sibanda squandered funds that were directed for the welfare of war veterans. It is also known that Sibanda failed to seek for financial resources that could have assisted in paying school fees for the children of war liberators during his term as the head union of War Veterans Association.  This alone shows that he, Sibanda, did not have the interest of the freedom fighters. An ideal leader should be concerned about the welfare of his/her subordinates. 

Sibanda plotted his demise. Therefore, he should enjoy the harvest of the fruits that he planted.