By Patience Rashai

Government is set to establish a Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Fund, as Government up-scales efforts to provide them with the requisite economic muscles to improve their welfare.

Following the repeal of the War Veterans Act (Chapter 11:15) and the subsequent enactment of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act (Chapter 17:12), Cabinet has since approved the proposals on the operationalisation of the Act which include the establishment of this fund.

“The new Act shall be operationalised through the following proposals: establishment of a Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Fund and capitalisation of the Fund; establishment of a structure for welfare and economic empowerment of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle.

“Putting in place a vetting system for war collaborators and non-combatant cadres; appointment of a new Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Board; and conversion of Power Zimbabwe Company into a Holdings Parastatal,” said Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs.

According Minister Muchinguri, the beneficiaries will encompass all categories of Veterans of the Struggle, namely War Veterans, Ex-Political Prisoners, Detainees and Restrictees, Non-Combatant Cadres, and War Collaborators.

Veterans have welcomed this move applauding Government for honoring its pledge as enunciated in the 2018 Zanu PF manifesto.

If elected into office, “The legacy of our liberation struggle is freedom for all, equality for all, prosperity for all …. Zanu PF, undertakes to preserve this legacy by ensuring that appropriate sustainable schemes to provide for the welfare of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle and their defendants are established by the Government.”