Mnangagwa disburses tractors to war veterans

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has officially launched the War Veterans Mechanisation Programme, handing over the first batch of 100 tractors to beneficiaries across Zimbabwe. The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to improve the welfare of war veterans who fought in the liberation struggle against colonial rule.

The tractors were handed over in Harare on Thursday, providing veterans with the tools to enhance their farming activities. Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, explained that the tractors were being disbursed under an AFC Bank facility and are not free. "For the first batch, the President has paid a deposit," he said.

Receiving the tractors, veterans expressed gratitude to the President for addressing their needs. A war veteran from Matabeleland South said, "We applaud our President for remembering the comrades. With these tractors, we are empowered to work hard and produce. Many of us had no access to such equipment. Thanks to our President, we will not disappoint him."

Another veteran added, "I am running short of words, but I salute President Mnangagwa for taking note of the plight of war veterans and availing such a programme for us."

ZANU-PF Secretary for the War Veterans League, Douglas Mahiya, said the initiative has bolstered support for President Mnangagwa, with veterans expressing hope that he will remain in office until 2030 to continue empowering freedom fighters.

The handover coincides with the launch of the Presidential War Veterans Fund, aimed at enabling veterans to start income-generating ventures and further improve their livelihoods.