Ugly fight over war vets windfall

A US$650,000 government empowerment fund intended for children of Zimbabwe's liberation war veterans has ignited a fierce dispute between rival associations claiming to represent this constituency.

The seed capital was disbursed to the Children of Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association (CZLWVA) during a launch held earlier this month at the Zanu-PF Winery Convention Centre in the Midlands province. The event was officiated by Special Presidential Investment Advisor Paul Tungwarara and attended by several government ministers including Monica Mavhunga (War Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs), Tino Machakaire (Youth Empowerment), and Tatenda Mavetera (ICT, Postal and Courier Services), with Mavetera also serving as national chairperson of CZLWVA.

However, last week a rival group calling itself the Children of Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (CZNLWVA) wrote to Minister Mavhunga demanding that the entire US$650,000 fund be handed over to them, dismissing the CZLWVA as a bogus entity.

In a letter dated June 6, 2025, CZNLWVA founder and national chairperson Innocent Mhlanga claimed his association was formed in 2010 and officially registered in 2015. He accused the CZLWVA of "hijacking" their logo by removing the letter "N" from the abbreviation in 2023 and alleged that most CZLWVA members are not actually children of war veterans.

Mhlanga's letter emphasized that CZNLWVA sees itself as the legitimate representative body for children of war veterans and expressed jubilation over the presidential empowerment fund. He requested Minister Mavhunga to disburse the funds to his association, citing the funds were granted under their emblem.

The letter was copied to the Office of the President and Cabinet as well as Vice-Presidents Kembo Mohadi and Constantino Chiwenga.

Efforts to reach Mavetera and Mavhunga for comment were unsuccessful, but Mhlanga criticized the launch event as politicized, saying it was dominated by party affiliates rather than genuine children of war veterans. He asserted that the event sidelined pressing issues in favor of political posturing.

Mhlanga also declared his unwavering support for President Emmerson Mnangagwa, recalling his own expulsion from Zanu-PF during the G40 era for standing with war veterans and the then Vice President Mnangagwa.

"We stand firm with our President and emulate the good works being done by the second republic," Mhlanga wrote, adding that CZNLWVA recognizes the apex council of Children of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle and the REDREV youth investment vehicle born from the association.

The dispute deepened last week when another group, the Children of Zimbabwe War Veterans Association (COZWA), accused Zanu-PF of sponsoring the CZLWVA to undermine and destabilize its organization. COZWA leader Munyaradzi Shoko, whose association was formed in 2008, alleged political interference and factionalism within children of war veterans groups.

As the fight for the US$650,000 empowerment fund continues, questions remain over which group truly represents the interests of children of Zimbabwe's liberation war veterans and how the government intends to resolve the leadership dispute to ensure that intended beneficiaries receive support.