Needs assessment initiative for war veterans
THE Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs over the weekend undertook home visits and needs assessment initiatives for war victims in Mashonaland Central province as part of efforts to find lasting solutions.
The initiatives are also part of the build-up to upcoming National Disability Expo slated for later this year, where veterans of the liberation struggle will showcase various business ventures they are undertaking in their respective districts and provinces.
Speaking on the initiative, the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs Minister Monicah Mavhunga said the unwavering commitment towards improvement of welfare issues of war victims borrows from clarion calls by the Second Republic to ensure tangible economic empowerment and improved livelihoods for veterans, heroes’ dependants and war victims.
“Currently, Government provides essential entitlements in the form of pensions, medical, educational, and funeral assistance. These benefits are being reviewed from time to time, in line with the obtaining economic environment. Despite regular reviews, these benefits will not be sufficient to cater to all the needs of our veterans and heroes’ dependants, hence the initiative to go direct on the ground and see what exactly needs to be done to improve their lives”, she said.
In pursuit of this commitment, Minister Mavhunga said specific assets in the form of land, mining claims, and tourism assets were allocated to the veterans of the liberation struggle through public entities: Veterans Investment Corporation and Power Zimbabwe.
She said Government expects these assets to contribute significantly to the growth of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Fund, through regular dividend income streams.
In turn, the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Fund is expected to augment Government efforts in economically empowering our veterans.
Minister Mavhunga said the appreciation and information gathered during home visits will go a long way in helping Government on how best to serve the needs and requirements of the veterans.
National secretary for Zimbabwe Liberation War Victims organisation, Cde Elias Katsande concurred saying veterans genuinely require emotional support and interactive platforms for positive identification of existing gaps.
Cde Phineas Mudzonga (72) a war veteran and bona fide war victim concurred, adding that the home visit initiative helped in sharing information on some of the personal challenges faced by the veterans in their everyday life.
“The initiative to move on a door to door basis is a step in the right direction towards obtaining correct information on the needs and problems affecting the veterans of the struggle and their dependants,” he said.