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Fungai Lupande-Mash Central Bureau

Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has thanked the Second Republic for recognising war veterans and correcting the anomaly created by the First Republic.

Speaking during a visit to Mashonaland Central last week, Minister Mutsvangwa, who is herself a war veteran, said recognition of war veterans is an epitome of peace.

She said Zimbabweans were angered by the lack of recognition for liberation fighters because people are aware of the role they played in bringing independence. 

“It is better late than never. The Second Republic is making sure that war veterans are given the recognition they deserve,” she said.

“It is not fair to expect President Mnangagwa to correct all the wrongs done in the past 40 years within a short space of time.” 

She said the First Republic did not recognise war veterans and now the Second Republic is correcting those mistakes. For a long time, the war veterans’ association was lobbying to become a league and the President has granted that wish.

The association is a non-political welfare organisation while the league can interact with party political leaders. 

“It is time for war veterans to unite. There should not be any division as if those in the association are not war veterans or the league is for those not in the association. We are one,” she said.

War Veterans League chairperson Cde Richard Chirongwe thanked Cde Mutsvangwa for articulating the issue about war veterans’ association and league and giving it clarity. The war veterans’ association and war veterans league are two sides of one coin, he said.

“We are happy that Cde Mutsvangwa articulated the importance of the involvement of war veterans in the party system. Prior to this, war vets were not in the party and their issues were not easily understood,” he said.