By Takunda Chimwaka

Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister, Judith Ncube has hailed the empowerment initiatives by the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), which he said would cushion them against sanctions, Harare Post reports.

Speaking during the commissioning of a community borehole and bakery at the ZNLWVA Bulawayo Provincial Offices in Entumbane Suburb Bulawayo on Tuesday, Minister Ncube applauded the initiative by the war veterans to empower themselves and their families.

“The bakery will empower women and calm down the fuelling bread prices. As war veterans, you need also to venture into market gardening and supply produces like tomatoes to Sondelani Ranging which opened a tomato processing plant last year,” said Minister Ncube.

Apparently bread price is pegged at ZW$14.99 and the community bakeries are selling it at ZW$3, 40.

Speaking at the same event, the ZNLWVA Bulawayo Provincial Chairperson, Cephas Ncube revealed that, part of the funding of these two projects was raised from ZNLWVA Heroes Day Football tournament which raised ZW$21000.

“To effectively empower the war veterans, there is need to establish a vocational training centre, hall and a hostel here. We are working well with the Government to make sure war veterans won’t feel the impacts of illegal sanctions which crippled our economy,” expressed Cephas Ncube.

War Veterans have been taking heads on with Government to have their pensions and benefits increased amid the prevailing economic hardships.

Government has since allotted war veterans 15 000 hectares of farmland in the country’s eight agricultural provinces. This followed complaints that the war veterans were excluded from the Land Reform Programme.