Staff Reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledged to improve the welfare of war veterans as part of acknowledgement of their efforts towards the liberation of the country.

Speaking during the official opening of the first War Veterans League conference yesterday in Harare, President Mnangagwa admitted that Government could not fully compensate what the War Veterans went through during the liberation struggle because there is no amount of financial or non-monetary benefit which can be able to satisfy the war experiences.

He, however, revealed that plans were in place to ensure that they access quality and affordable services.

“It is a fact that we all bear visible and unseen scars from our protracted liberation struggle. Some of us are still nursing injuries to this day. No amount of financial and non-monetary benefit can satisfactorily restitute that war experience.

“However, as a listening and responsive Administration and in line with Section 23 of our National Constitution, plans are in place to ensure that you have access to quality and affordable services as well as the respect, dignity, and recognition due to you, as the veterans of our great country,” said President Mnangagwa.

President Mnangagwa highlighted that to date, the now functional Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Board was setting up productive ventures across various sectors of the economy. The productive ventures will not only improve the welfare of the war veterans  but also that of their families and dependents.

The President advised that the Government would be availing seed capital to capacitate the Veterans Investment Corporation Holding Company and urged the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Board to work closely with the League for increased participation of veterans in the mainstream economy.

President Mnangagwa implored the war veterans to scale up production in order to feed themselves highlighting that the Government would be supporting all those programmes.

“Let us continue to scale up production and productivity to feed ourselves and achieve consistent household and national food security. The ZANU PF Government continues to increase input support under such schemes as the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme. The Livestock sector is being supported through various robust programmes such as the Presidential Heifer Pass-on Scheme and the Presidential Goat and Poultry Schemes,” said the President

President Mnangagwa commended the war veterans for their continued participation in various national events and programmes that are aimed at immortalizing the rich history and collective memory.

The Government is currently undertaking a comprehensive programme to preserve and safeguard the liberation sites and rich liberation war heritage. At continental level, Zimbabwe is host to the Museum of African Liberation.

Meanwhile, the War Veterans League conference endorsed President Mnangagwa as the candidate for next year`s Harmonised General Elections ahead of the Party`s October Congress.