Over 280 000 Zipra cadres not vetted

THE Zipra War Veterans Association has claimed that over 280 000 of its members were yet to be vetted amid fears that they might be left out of government programmes meant to empower freedom fighters.

War veterans in the country are registered in order to ensure they benefit from welfare programmes and a monthly stipend paid to them for participating in the liberation struggle.

Zipra War Veterans Association secretary-general Petros Sibanda told Southern Eye that most Zipra ex-fighters were not registered.

Sibanda said he had a meeting with the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Board and was told the first phase of the vetting exercise was completed.

"During the meeting with the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Board, we raised several complaints that included the issue of 20% land to be distributed to war veterans, soft loans, and the return of Zapu properties."

Zipra War Veterans Association spokesperson Buster Magwizi said they were disenfranchised in 1980 when their party, PF Zapu, was labelled an unlawful organisation.

Magwizi said this resulted in Zapu properties being seized by government.

"Every war veteran is anxious about the vetting exercise, but our members have been disenfranchised since 1980 after our organisation was labelled unlawful, hence the introduction of caveats meant to take over our properties.

"We want to contribute to the gross domestic product of this country using our own properties.

"We are worried about the slow pace taken by the government to implement things that are clearly written in the Constitution," Magwizi said.