ZANU PF’s war veterans have identified more land to apportion themselves, marking another effort to appease liberation war fighters, some of whom already have under-utilised properties.
The land identified by the war veterans will be managed under the trust – The War Veterans Family Wealth Trust – which aims to benefit its members through financial accumulation.
Speaking before the National Executive Council (NEC), Zanu PF War Veterans League secretary, Douglas Mahiya said the swathe of land will benefit ex-combatants and now the process awaits President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s approval.
“Initially what we proposed is the use of land that we fought for inorder to unlock the economic synergies available to tackle the welfare of the war veterans.
“In other words, we would have managed to turn the former fighters into entrepreneurs and allow them to be able to contribute to the national GDP (gross domestic product),” said Mahiya.
Previously in 1997, the ex-combatants have made various demands, Z$50 000 gratuities each during the government of Robert Mugabe resulting in plunging of the local currency.
The war veterans, a vital campaign cog for the ruling party Zanu PF, were instrumental in propping then fired Vice President Mnangagwa at the height of internal party conflicts which led to the toppling of Mugabe.
Mahiya insinuated the war veterans league will be assisting the party in the restructuring of its members and, therefore, need to be rewarded.
“We have gone further to position the war veterans to be able to help the party, Zanu PF, in its restructuring programme because we are starting from the cell and the war veterans will assist in having those cells put in place,” he added. — NewZimbabwe
