War vets tell minister to move away from bicycles and hampers

Veterans of Zimbabwe's liberation struggle have called on government to move beyond symbolic donations such as bicycles and food hampers, insisting that they deserve meaningful economic empowerment to reflect their contribution to independence.

Speaking at an interface meeting in Bulawayo with Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Minister Monica Mavhunga, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association chairperson Ethan Mathibela said many former fighters felt sidelined and undervalued despite their sacrifices.

He criticised recent government-linked donations, including bicycles, describing them as inadequate and inconsistent with the dignity of veterans who fought for the country's freedom. Mathibela argued that veterans should instead be enabled to participate fully in the economy through land ownership and structured empowerment programmes.

He said most war veterans still do not own land and rejected the idea of paying for it, arguing that land was central to their liberation struggle. He also accused unnamed political actors of using selective benefits to divide veterans, while some officials receive preferential treatment.

In response, Minister Mavhunga defended government efforts, saying donations from individuals should not be confused with official policy. She said empowerment programmes were already underway, including a US$6 million allocation to veterans' income-generating projects and ongoing efforts to improve healthcare support for former combatants.

She added that government was finalising the vetting and gazetting of eligible veterans for gratuities, though implementation depended on available resources. Mavhunga also urged unity among veterans and said broader reforms would be addressed progressively within legal and fiscal limits.