'Zimbabwe liberation heroes still live in poverty'

THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has accused the country's political elites of enriching themselves from national resources while the majority of Zimbabweans continue to grapple with poverty, low wages and deteriorating living conditions.

In a statement marking the 45th Heroes Day, ZCTU secretary-general Tirivanhu Marimo questioned whether Zimbabwe had fulfilled the aspirations for which thousands of liberation war heroes and heroines sacrificed their lives.

Marimo said the country's prevailing socio-economic conditions, marked by high levels of informality, poor wages and widespread poverty, were inconsistent with the objectives of the liberation struggle.

"It is a painful contradiction that, more than four decades after independence, many of the very heroes and heroines who sacrificed for this country continue to live in poverty and indignity," Marimo said.

He said some veterans continued to struggle to access adequate healthcare, decent housing, food and social security, describing their circumstances as an indictment of a nation whose freedom had come at a huge human cost.

According to Marimo, the liberation struggle was not fought merely to change the individuals exercising political power, but to create a society founded on political freedom, economic justice, equality and human dignity.

He said the country's vast mineral and agricultural wealth had failed to translate into better living standards for the majority.

Zimbabwe possesses significant deposits of gold, platinum, lithium, diamonds, chrome, coal and nickel, alongside substantial agricultural and other productive resources.

Despite this natural wealth, Marimo said the country continued to experience widespread poverty, precarious employment, low wages, inadequate social protection and extreme inequality.

"A country cannot legitimately celebrate its mineral wealth while its workers cannot afford basic necessities, pensioners live in deprivation, communities surrounding mineral deposits remain impoverished and public services remain chronically underfunded," he said.

Marimo called for natural resources to be managed in the public interest and for the benefits of mineral wealth to reach ordinary citizens.

"Mineral wealth must translate into decent jobs, decent wages, universal social protection, quality healthcare, education, housing, infrastructure and sustainable community development," he said.

The ZCTU leader also reminded political leaders that workers played an important role in sustaining the liberation struggle and should not be treated as spectators in determining the country's future.

He said the sacrifices made during the liberation struggle should continue to guide Zimbabwe's political and economic policies, particularly efforts to ensure that national resources benefit the wider population rather than a privileged minority.

The labour movement's statement comes as Zimbabwe continues to debate how best to harness its natural resources to drive inclusive economic development, reduce poverty and improve the welfare of workers and vulnerable communities.

Marimo said the true meaning of Heroes Day should extend beyond commemorating the fallen and should include confronting the economic and social challenges that continue to affect the people for whom the liberation struggle was fought.