By Wilton Mutepfe

THE Government of the Second Republic continues to make extraordinary efforts in implementing the provisions of the 2013 Constitutions Amendment No 20 of Zimbabwe. 

Section 23(1) provides that:

“The State and all institutions and agencies of government at every level must accord due respect, honour and recognition to veterans of the liberation struggle, that is to say

(a) those who fought in the War of Liberation;

(b) those who assisted the fighters in the War of Liberation; and 

(c) those who were imprisoned, detained or restricted for political reasons during the liberation struggle.” 

For that reason, the Constitution further reiterated that the State must take reasonable measures, including legislative measures, for the welfare and economic empowerment of veterans of the liberation struggle. 

In this regard, the Government of Zimbabwe continues to  officially recognise veterans of the liberation struggle.

In recognition and bid to bolster those who helped the country secure its independence, the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans has launched another vetting exercise of the veterans of the liberation struggle. 

The exercise will cover war collaborators, non-combatant cadres and war veterans who have been left out in previous vettings. 

The vetting exercise is a second stage process after a successful registration exercise done last year from June 17 2021 to July 17 2021. 

The exercise then registered about 205 753 applicants who are supposed to undergo a thorough vetting process.

The vetting process exercise was officially launched by Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri at the Harare International Conference Centre. 

Addressing delegates who included sectorial and detachment commanders, she said that the main aim of the exercise is to fulfill the provisions of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act which constitutionally recognise war collaborators as participants of the liberation struggle. 

According to the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act, veterans of the liberation struggle are those who fought in the war of liberation, those who assisted fighters in the war and those who were imprisoned, detained or restricted for political reasons. 

Thus, the vetting exercise is targeting those who assisted during the war of liberation and those who crossed the border to Mozambique to receive military training but did not return to the front due to the ceasefire (non-combatant cadres). 

Cde Oppah Muchinguri reiterated that the vetting process will be carried out by the commanders who worked very closely with war collaborators.

ZANU PF secretary for War Veterans League Cde Douglas Mahiya applauded the Government for executing the vetting exercise. 

Cde Muchinguri said Government would continue to improve the welfare of the veterans of the liberation struggle and their pensions. 

Their salaries are going to be at par with those of the uniformed forces.

The Minister also said that after the vetting process, which is expected to last three months, the Government will decide on what benefits to be given war collaborators and non-combatant cadres. 

Minister Oppah Muchinguri called on the veterans of the liberation struggle to engage Government on all issues of concern.