By Shadreck Gurenje
President Mnangagwa has said the veterans who fought to liberate Zimbabwe remain critical and important actors in advancing of the national vision.
Addressing the at the Launch of the Presidential War Veterans’s Empowerment Scheme in Harare , President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa said the Second Republic take pride in the War Veterans for remaining vigilant, unwavering and persistent, resolutely defending the gains of the nation’s liberation struggle.
“Under our ruling ZANU PF Party in the Second Republic, us, the veterans who fought to liberate our great motherland, Zimbabwe remain critical and important actors in advancing of our national vision. The Veterans are forever an integral part of the people’s revolution led by our Party, ZANU PF. We take pride in you all for remaining vigilant, unwavering and persistent, resolutely defending the gains of our liberation struggle.
“I acknowledge and thank you for your active participation in the mobilisation programmes of the Party. Maramba muri musimboti weMusango, nekutonga kwedu kweZANU PF. Tinokutendayi mose maComrade. Siyalibonga lonke maComrades. Tinotarisira kuti mutori mundima campaigning for more resounding victories in the upcoming by -elections. We will forever honour all of you, the brave men and women, including Ex-Detainees, war collaborators, and non-combatant cadres, who took up arms, to fight and dismantle the white colonial regime. Zvange zvakaoma, asi takatsunga, tikazvipira kusunungura Nyika yedu yeZimbabwe.
“Some of our comrades never made it back, indeed their precious blood is etched in our national flag. Together, we delivered Independence freedom, and democracy; we also realised peace and unity. Our role is not done, we vowed to fight for Zimbabwe,”said President Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa also said the hard-won Independence, democracy and the peace, unity and ongoing accelerated development under the Second Republic, forms a solid foundation from which Zimbabwe is built.
“Our hard-won Independence, democracy and the peace, unity and ongoing accelerated development under the Second Republic, forms a solid foundation from which we are building our country. Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatirwa nevene vayo. Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, li-khu-le-ke-lwe ngabanikazi balo.
“It is on this background and in the spirit of our war-time aspirations that we gather today, under the banner of our revolutionary mass Party, ZANU PF, to witness and celebrate this historic launch of the Presidential War Veterans Empowerment Scheme, “said President Mnangagwa.
Running under the theme, ‘Honouring, Respecting, Recognising the Past: Shaping the Future’, the scheme dovetails with the commitment of the ZANU PF Government to ensure that the state accord due respect, honour and recognition to veterans of the liberation struggle.
President Mnangagwa also reiterated that government will continue to implement a broad array of programmes and projects for the welfare and economic empowerment of veterans of the liberation struggle.
“We continue to implement a broad array of programmes and projects for the welfare and economic empowerment of veterans of the liberation struggle. As the Second Republic, we are fostering and encouraging skills development and self-reliance for war veterans, ex-political prisoners, detainees and restrictees as well as war collaborators and non-combatants. Resources will also be availed to carter for widows of war veterans.
“ A few days ago, we saw the launch of a Fund specifically for the children of war veterans. In advancing these programmes, I commend the symbiotic and mutually beneficial work culture, existing among the War Veterans League, our Party, ZANU PF, and the Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs. We are one people and one Party and we must tackle the challenges and embrace the opportunities we face in unity for the good of us all and our motherland,”said President Mnangagwa.