War vets project gathers momentum
THE Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association Cowdray Park District has held a fundraising event to mobilise funds for the construction of an office, hall and other amenities while also laying the foundation for agricultural projects, having drilled a borehole already.
War veterans from around Bulawayo gathered in Cowdray Park yesterday where various activities were taking place to raise funds for the district office. Bulawayo provincial war veterans chairman Cde Cephas Ncube said Cowdray Park District had taken a positive step in ownership of the construction of their offices.
“Bulawayo Province has 12 districts and many have their own stands, that is why we are here to witness and assist district 12 to fund-raise and be able to develop this land that they got from the city council as per the requirements of the city. We have come as a province to assist them in raising funds as the district wants to fence off the stand and then build an office that will assist war veterans in this area with any information they need. They also want to build a hall for meetings or any events that may come up,” said Cde Ncube.
Cde Ncube said the war veterans were following in the footsteps of President Mnangagwa’s emphasis on taking ownership of developing the nation as citizens.
“The President said ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaninilo, this place must be built by the owners who are the war veterans, if they take a leading role, they will actually build it and we are there to assist. We are also here to learn as the rest of the province on how they will fundraise and we do the same in our areas too. In Bulawayo I think we have just two districts that do not have stands but the rest have,” said Cde Ncube.
District 12 executive member Cde Charles Madumeja said they purchased the stand in 2006 and they were now starting to make developments despite the challenges they were facing.
“We realised we were unable to source funds to build the infrastructure that we need so we sought the help of others and when the construction is done it will benefit us, our children and generations to come. The surrounding community will also benefit, if we get a water crisis, we will allow them to come and draw water from our borehole here. Agricultural projects will also be done here that will assist them too,” he said.
Cde Madumeja said they were looking forward to have an information centre so that war veterans’ history was made available for all to access long after they were gone.
The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Judith Ncube in a speech read on her behalf by the deputy director in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Ms Beaulah Gwaze, said she was pleased to note that the war veterans were going to make their office and its resources available to the community.
“My office has been informed that this project will also see the entire community benefiting from it. The installation of a solar powered borehole will come in handy to the community especially in times when the city will be experiencing water rationing,” she said. -@NyembeziMu