News / National
Zipra war vets concerned over property release delays
3 hrs ago | Views
ZIPRA war veterans have expressed frustration over the government's prolonged delay in returning their properties, which were confiscated during the Gukurahundi massacres in the 1980s. The properties were seized after the government accused the former liberation fighters of using them to plot insurgency against the late former President Robert Mugabe's administration.
Speaking at a media briefing in Bulawayo on Thursday, ZIPRA national spokesperson Buster Magwizi said the veterans had engaged President Emmerson Mnangagwa on multiple occasions, but their demands remained unmet.
"We have engaged the President to return our properties, which were confiscated in the 1980s," Magwizi said. "Since the beginning of his rule in 2017, we have engaged the government, but until today, we are singing the same song as we are yet to be given back our property."
Magwizi expressed concern that while the government had committed to compensating white former commercial farmers whose land was expropriated during the land reform programme, it had failed to address ZIPRA's long-standing grievances. The government has pledged to compensate the farmers for improvements made on the land, but not the land itself.
"We are worried as ZIPRA that we have been unfairly treated since we continue to suffer," he said. "Government has been able to sow division among war veterans, as those from the ZANLA side have benefited the most at our expense. Currently, they have initiated the Munhumutapa project, which has been funded by the state, while we are yet to receive our confiscated property for over 40 years."
Magwizi called on the government to ensure equal treatment of all war veterans, regardless of their political affiliations, arguing that they all played a role in Zimbabwe's liberation struggle.
ZIPRA deputy spokesperson Joachim Moyo echoed these sentiments, stating that some politicians were living lavish lives while war veterans continued to suffer.
"As war veterans, we fought for the benefit of every citizen regardless of political affiliation, but currently there are only a few individuals squandering the nation's resources for their personal gains," Moyo said.
He further criticized the government for failing to fulfill its promises to war veterans in a timely manner, citing irregularities in the vetting process for war veterans seeking compensation.
"At the moment, the process of vetting war veterans by the government has been manipulated a lot," Moyo said. "Those who are qualified to receive their rewards are yet to have them. The welfare of war veterans has been overlooked, as most of them are living in poverty, which is a shame."
The ZIPRA war veterans have long demanded the return of their properties, which include buildings and farms, arguing that their seizure was politically motivated. Despite repeated engagements with the government, their calls remain unanswered, leaving many ex-fighters struggling economically decades after the country gained independence.
Speaking at a media briefing in Bulawayo on Thursday, ZIPRA national spokesperson Buster Magwizi said the veterans had engaged President Emmerson Mnangagwa on multiple occasions, but their demands remained unmet.
"We have engaged the President to return our properties, which were confiscated in the 1980s," Magwizi said. "Since the beginning of his rule in 2017, we have engaged the government, but until today, we are singing the same song as we are yet to be given back our property."
Magwizi expressed concern that while the government had committed to compensating white former commercial farmers whose land was expropriated during the land reform programme, it had failed to address ZIPRA's long-standing grievances. The government has pledged to compensate the farmers for improvements made on the land, but not the land itself.
"We are worried as ZIPRA that we have been unfairly treated since we continue to suffer," he said. "Government has been able to sow division among war veterans, as those from the ZANLA side have benefited the most at our expense. Currently, they have initiated the Munhumutapa project, which has been funded by the state, while we are yet to receive our confiscated property for over 40 years."
Magwizi called on the government to ensure equal treatment of all war veterans, regardless of their political affiliations, arguing that they all played a role in Zimbabwe's liberation struggle.
ZIPRA deputy spokesperson Joachim Moyo echoed these sentiments, stating that some politicians were living lavish lives while war veterans continued to suffer.
"As war veterans, we fought for the benefit of every citizen regardless of political affiliation, but currently there are only a few individuals squandering the nation's resources for their personal gains," Moyo said.
He further criticized the government for failing to fulfill its promises to war veterans in a timely manner, citing irregularities in the vetting process for war veterans seeking compensation.
"At the moment, the process of vetting war veterans by the government has been manipulated a lot," Moyo said. "Those who are qualified to receive their rewards are yet to have them. The welfare of war veterans has been overlooked, as most of them are living in poverty, which is a shame."
The ZIPRA war veterans have long demanded the return of their properties, which include buildings and farms, arguing that their seizure was politically motivated. Despite repeated engagements with the government, their calls remain unanswered, leaving many ex-fighters struggling economically decades after the country gained independence.
Source - newsday
