A South African-based former ZIPRA combatant, Chandagwinyira Chose (whose chimurenga name was Sizwe Jacana), has accused the Zimbabwean government of neglecting war veterans.
He lamented that many Zimbabweans have forgotten the sacrifices made by those who fought against the oppressive Rhodesian regime, paving the way for the country’s independence in 1980. He said:
<blockquote>
It is disheartening to note that some war veterans remain unburied in various countries, including Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia. May their souls rest in peace.
Furthermore, when we, as war veterans, approach politicians to address our concerns and those of the Zimbabwean people, we’re met with harassment.
</blockquote>
Jacana said the current leadership’s “oppressive behaviour,” is reminiscent of Ian Smith’s regime, leading some to believe that colonialism was preferable to the present government.
He said war veterans are not happy with the widespread emigration of Zimbabweans seeking better opportunities abroad. Said Jacana:
<blockquote>
This issue demands urgent attention and we must re-examine our priorities. Let us continue fighting for justice and equality.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has approved the allocation of urban land for war veterans, allowing them to establish homes and businesses in urban areas.
Furthermore, a revolving fund of US$1.5 million was introduced to support war veterans and their widows. This fund is aimed at financing income-generating projects, with each province receiving at least US$150,000.
Promises have been made to install boreholes at veterans’ homes as part of broader efforts to improve their living conditions.
However, some war veterans and activists have expressed scepticism about the government’s sincerity, accusing it of neglect and using these measures as political manoeuvres.
More: <a href="https://newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local/article/200039351/ex-zipra-cadre-laments-neglect-of-war-vets">Southern Eye</a>

Pindula News

A former soldier named Sizwe Jacana is sad because the government is not taking care of war veterans who fought for independence in Zimbabwe. He says some veterans are not even buried properly. He also thinks the government is mistreating the veterans when they ask for help. Jacana says the leaders are acting like the old colonial rulers. The President is giving land and money to veterans, but some people are not sure if it is a true effort to help or just a show. War veterans and activists are worried that the government is not really helping them.

Ex-ZIPRA Combatant Condemns Treatment Of War Veterans

Members of the former Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) have urged the Government to declare a national holiday in remembrance of the young men and women who were massacred by the Rhodesian army in Zambia in the 1970s.
ZIPRA was the military wing of ZAPU, one of the major nationalist political parties during the armed struggle.
Mkushi, a camp for female ZIPRA combatants in Zambia, was ambushed and bombed by Rhodesian forces on 19 October 1978. Thousands of young women were either killed or injured.
The Rhodesian forces also launched an assault on Freedom Camp in Zambia, just at the same time as the Mkushi attack.
Speaking to the <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local/article/200018405/zpra-veterans-want-their-colleagues-to-be-honoured">Southern Eye</a>, ZIPRA War Veterans Association secretary Petros Sibanda called upon the Government to facilitate reburials for the victims. He said:
<blockquote>
The government should declare memorial dates for such painful days like these where a lot of girls and boys were bombed in Mkushi and Freedom camps, respectively in these transit camps.
There should be an activity to commemorate such painful events.
The government should facilitate reburials or establish museums so that people can go there and do rituals.
Some may want to go and pray there.
</blockquote>
Former Nampundwe camp instructor Cetshwayo Sithole said the bombing of the camps showed the Rhodesians’ callousness. He said:
<blockquote>
What is so painful is that these were refugee camps declared by the United Nations, the Rhodesian forces had decided to deliberately abandon the war at the front and targeted soft targets to dislodge us.
These were boys and adults who were not eligible for war doing agricultural activities to feed those in the front.
The camps were established to prepare people for what was going to happen after the war; that the nation was supposed to do farming to sustain themselves.
</blockquote>
Former ZIPRA combatants often complain that the Government is deliberately trying to erase their contributions during the armed struggle.
A few years after independence in 1980, the Government confiscated properties and war records belonging to ZIPRA, accusing the former combatants of fomenting an insurrection.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZIPRA Veterans Want Mkushi, Freedom Camps Massacre Victims To Be Honoured

Some former ZIPRA war veterans have expressed skepticism over the latest government overtures to return their properties which were confiscated in the 1980s during the Gukurahundi killings.
This comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration reportedly appointed Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube to engage the war veterans.
The ZIPRA ex-combatants met on Saturday at MacDonald Hall in Mzilikazi, Bulawayo to elect an 11-member substantive committee that will lead engagements with the government for the return of their properties.
The committee comprises Volta Moyo (Matabeleland South), Sithabile ‘Ntombiyezizweni’ Sibanda (Midlands), Queen Maligwa (Bulawayo), Canaan Sibanda (Harare), Buster Magwizi (Mashonaland West), John Gazi (Midlands), Albert Ncube (Mashonaland West), Ian Matiwaza (Matabeleland South), Shelter Muchechesi (Mashonaland West), Willard Mafios Moyo (Bulawayo), and Leonard Machingura (Manicaland).
The committee will decide on a course of action and identify the ZPRA properties that need to be returned.
However, some former ZIPRA cadres feel the move is just a ruse to use them ahead of general elections set for later this year, and then dump them.
ZPRA Veterans Association Spokesperson Buster Magwizi said they just want to know when the government will bring back their properties. He said:
<blockquote>
Dube was the one collecting money from assembly points. He can talk about unity but these are ZPRA properties. It is business, not politics.
</blockquote>
A former ZPRA female commander, Thoriso Moyo, said they don’t want to become a ZIPRA4ED grouping, in reference to a dozen ZANU PF-affiliated organisations that have sprouted over the past few months claiming to be championing Mnangagwa’s so-called “Vision 2030”. Moyo said:
<blockquote>
We don’t want to be called ZPRA for ED. Today they are coming to us because they are campaigning. This is what we don’t want.
We know there are some individuals who can’t confront the system because they are riding a hyena and if they stop riding, they will be eaten.
We are tired, we won’t get these properties after 42 years. They must give me back my $50 with interest because we have seen how difficult it is to reclaim our properties plus we don’t want to be used.
</blockquote>
Another former ZIPRA fighter, John Zolani Dlamini, who served as a Chief of Security under the first battalion and was deployed at Gwayi River Mine during the liberation struggle, said ZANU PF is planning to use them for its election campaigns. He said:
<blockquote>
Why today? Mnangagwa came into power in 2017 and has not given our properties to date.
It makes everyone doubt this gathering and the call by Cde Dube that he has been sent by Mohadi so that Mnangagwa considers handing over our properties becomes very difficult to believe,” he said.
We are going for elections and we have seen how Zanu has been campaigning, so one would want to believe this is just a mere campaign.
If it was not, we would have been given our properties long back immediately after the Unity Accord in 1987.
We will do what they tell us to do but I don’t want to dampen other people’s morale. When is Mnangagwa going to work on this?
This is the end of January, then July/ August, we have elections. After elections it will be a different language.
</blockquote>
Other ex-combatants said the government must formally commit to the initiative by putting it in writing and repealing the law that was used to seize the ZIPRA properties. | <a href="https://cite.org.zw/ex-zpra-vets-say-mnangagwa-promise-on-seized-properties-political-gimmick/">CITE</a>

"We Don't Want To Become ZIPRA4ED", Veterans Skeptical About Govt's Promise To Return Seized Properties

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly directed that 258 former ZIPRA combatants who were unfairly dismissed from Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) in 1983 be compensated.
The former ZIPRA fighters were fired at the height of Gukurahundi under unclear circumstances.
Two of their comrades were allegedly shot dead at a parade by one of their commanders.
Speaking at former ZIPRA cadres’ meeting held in Bulawayo on Saturday, former ZIPRA commander and ZANU PF politburo member, Tshinga Dube, said:
<blockquote>
May I once more applaud His Excellency for solving the problem of those comrades who were unjustly dismissed from ZNA in 1983.
Now, their problem has been solved after almost 40 years and I hear they will be compensated for 40 years’ salaries and also registered into the pension office.
Kutonga kwaro; we must thank H.E. for keeping his promise to say no one will be left behind.
I wish to point out a very brave and consistent young man Duke Moyo and his 258 colleagues who fought their case until victory.
</blockquote>
Dube also revealed that Mnangagwa has promised to return the properties seized by the government from the ex-combatants during the Gukurahundi atrocities. He said:
<blockquote>
Most comrades who approached the President were told that the government was willing to hand over the properties provided that we go through Vice President (Kembo) Mohadi.
</blockquote>
The former ZIPRA fighters contributed their demobilisation payouts and managed to purchase various properties across the country but the properties were seized by the government following the alleged discovery of an arms cache on some of ZAPU’s farms. | <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/mnangagwa-orders-payment-of-compensation-for-258-zipra-cadres-fired-from-zna-during-gukurahundi/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

Mnangagwa Orders Payment Of Compensation For 258 Former ZIPRA Combatants

War Veterans who fought for independence under the Joshua Nkomo-led ZAPU’s military wing, the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZPRA) are demanding the restoration of their properties seized by the government.
ZIPRA reportedly owned a number of properties under its investment arm, Nitram Investments Private Limited.
Some of the properties include Magnet House, Kudu Motors, Hampton Farm, Ascot Farm, Nest egg farm, Woody Glenn Farm, Mbalabala Garage, Nyamandlovu Farm, Snake Park and Salisbury Motel in Harare.
The properties weres seized by the government in 1982 under the Unlawful Organisation Act at the onset of the Gukurahundi massacres.
Nitram chairperson, John Gazi said that ZIPRA members would forcibly occupy Magnet House, which house offices of the Central Intelligence Organisation. Said Gazi:
<blockquote>We are occupying Magnet House and if they arrest us, comrades you will raise the bail money because we are moving into our offices.
We don’t have venues to hold our meetings and pay for accommodation yet we have own properties. For our next meeting, we meet at Magnet House to discuss what the management committee would give us a report back on our properties.</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the government, through Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, last month said that ZIPRA will not get the properties back as ZAPU had merged with ZANU under the 1987 Unity Accord.
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<h4><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/we-planned-the-removal-of-mugabe-together-with-zanla-veterans-only-to-be-betrayed-afterwards-zipra-veterans/">We Planned The Removal Of Mugabe Together With ZANLA Veterans Only To Be Betrayed Afterwards: ZIPRA veterans</a></h4>
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<h4>More: <a href="http://www.cite.org.zw/zpra-veterans-vow-to-reclaim-seized-properties/">CITE</a></h4>

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