New dawn beckons for war collaborators
A NEW dawn is beckoning for war collaborators, restrictees and detainees after Zanu-PF-sourced funding for their vetting — a development that will see everyone who participated in the liberation struggle being placed under one umbrella for easy disbursement of their financial benefits.
Addressing veterans of the liberation struggle at Zanu-PF Winery Conference centre in Gweru yesterday, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) secretary-general and Politburo member Cde Victor Matemadanda said a new dawn was on the horizon for the veterans of the liberation struggle under the leadership of President Mnangagwa.
“We have been given a green light by the party to start the vetting process of war collaborators, restrictees and detainees.
“We received a letter from the party to that effect and the party is going to fund the vetting process before the final names are taken to Government for other issues to do with financial benefits,” he said.
Cde Matemadanda said the vetting was going to start soon, adding that war collaborators, ex-political detainees and restrictees who had quit the party for opposition like NPF would not be considered.
“This is a party programme and we are only vetting those in the party. We have fellow members who have joined National Patriotic Front, those I am afraid will not be considered at all.
“If they want to be vetted, they approach their party, but we all know NPF’s life span ends on the eve of elections and it will be a pity that some of our members fail to qualify because they left the revolutionary party,” he said.
Cde Matemadanda said President Mnangagwa, as a fellow war veteran, understands the plight of those who participated in the struggle.
“President Mnangagwa has said that he is a fellow freedom fighter and wants the best for us. I remember when the former president was at helm, he refused to have the war collaborators, ex-political detainees and restrictees vetted.
“But President Mnangagwa, as an understanding leader, has given his consent,” he said.
“We are working with the Government on this vetting exercise because after that we will hand over the names of the people who should be eligible to get benefits for the role they played during the liberation war that brought about the independence we are all enjoying.”
Cde Matemadanda said the Zanu-PF Government was also in consultation with some potential agriculture investors with the idea of empowering the locals who have land, but lacking resources to go into commercial farming.
He said the fact that the majority of Zimbabweans, especially those who participated in the war where financially incapacitated to bring real value to the land was troubling the Government.
“So we are looking at way of getting the real value of the land by engaging contract farmers for say five years. It is now up to us as land owners to come together, form a consortium in terms of irrigable land we have and contract these investors,” said Cde Matemadanda.
He said some people were going to say that the development initiatives by Zanu-PF for people who participated during the war were meant to buy their vote.
“However, if such initiatives bring food to the table for them, they are progressive as they address matters that affect the people and should be commended,” said Cde Matemadanda.
He said the most important candidate for the party was President Mnangagwa, followed by the MP and the councillor.
“We need many MPs in Parliament because their number affects the senatorial seat.
“So preach the gospel voting for the ruling party during the harmonised elections because every vote counts for us,” said Cde Matemadanda.