Thousands left out of the Presidential War Veterans Fund

Approximately 4,000 war veterans in Masvingo Province were recently awarded a mere US$150,000 from the US$1.5 million Presidential War Veterans Fund, a move that has been sharply criticized as insufficient and politically motivated.

On February 6, 2025, war veterans in Masvingo shared just around US$2,000 each, with only around 70 individuals benefiting out of the total database of 4,000 war veterans and collaborators. Critics, particularly from opposition factions and those opposed to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term extension bid, have described the gesture as a "slap in the face."

The fund, which was launched on January 31, 2025, was intended to address claims made by war veterans like Blessed Geza, who had previously stated that many veterans of Zimbabwe's liberation struggle were living in poverty. Geza’s comments were perceived by some as a direct challenge to Mnangagwa’s leadership, prompting the creation of the fund.

In Masvingo, the fund was launched by Special Presidential Investment Advisor Dr. Paul Tungwarara, who also visited Chivi, where he distributed cash to war veterans and promised to drill boreholes at their homesteads. However, the limited disbursement of the funds has raised eyebrows.

According to sources within the ruling Zanu PF party, the money is being seen as a strategic move by Mnangagwa’s faction to secure the loyalty of war veterans, especially in light of growing calls for his retirement and the potential rise of his deputy, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, to power.

In the aftermath of the February 6 distribution, the Provincial Chairperson of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), Killer Makuni, confirmed the meeting took place but refused to provide further details. When contacted by phone, Makuni declined to comment, stating he would only speak to someone he knew personally. He referred further questions to national executive member Tendeukai Chinooneka.

Chinooneka, however, denied attending the event and referred comments back to Makuni, asserting that he was not present during the distribution of funds. Other prominent war veterans, including former ZNLWVA Chairperson Chinooneka and Ezra Western, also reportedly did not attend the event.

Despite the controversies, the event held on February 1 in Chivi saw Tungwarara distribute US$200 to those present, along with a promise of a US$150,000 fund available for war veterans to borrow for small business ventures. However, the overall disbursement of funds has been criticized as inadequate for the thousands of war veterans in need of support.

The allocation of the Presidential War Veterans Fund has further exposed the division within the ruling party, with some war veterans siding with Mnangagwa, while others, aligned with Chiwenga, continue to press for a change in leadership. The Chiwenga faction, backed by a mix of war veterans and former G40 faction members, remains critical of Mnangagwa's rule.

War veterans were pivotal in Mnangagwa’s rise to power in 2017, and now his faction appears to be trying to re-establish ties with this influential group. However, the meager distribution of the Presidential War Veterans Fund has sparked dissatisfaction and raised doubts about the government's true commitment to addressing the needs of those who played a central role in the country’s liberation struggle.