War vets' children issues a stern warning

The Children of Zimbabwe War Veterans Association (CZLWVA) has issued a stern warning to the public about unscrupulous individuals falsely claiming to represent their empowerment scheme and demanding registration fees ranging from US$50 to US$100 from unsuspecting applicants.

This alert comes shortly after the association received a US$500,000 seed capital injection to launch economic projects in Gweru aimed at empowering children of liberation war veterans.

Association spokesperson, Lenin Samhembere, condemned the fraudulent activities, stressing that these impostors have no connection to the Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle or any official government agency.

"It has come to our attention that fraudsters are falsely claiming to represent the Presidential War Veterans Empowerment Scheme. They are soliciting personal and business information from Children of War Veterans," said Samhembere.

He urged all children of war veterans to avoid engaging with these individuals and to never share personal information or pay any fees. He also called on anyone approached by such fraudsters to report the matter immediately to the nearest police station.

Meanwhile, legitimate registration for the empowerment scheme is ongoing. Children of war veterans nationwide are encouraged to register through their respective provincial leadership structures. They should submit their details along with business proposals, preferably as clusters, to qualify for support from the US$500,000 revolving fund.

The initiative follows the official launch of the Presidential Empowerment Scheme for Children of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle, which aims to improve the livelihoods of liberation war families by fostering sustainable economic ventures.

This scheme forms part of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's wider strategy to ensure economic independence for veterans and their families, reinforcing the government's commitment to their welfare and development.