War vets demand pension hike

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Mugabe is patron of the war veterans, who wield immense influence in his ruling party because they are the centrepiece of its electioneering machine, waging violence and terror against the opposition at every election to ensure victory for the party.
The ex-combatants also spearheaded the government’s controversial land reform programme touted by Mugabe as his administration’s best achievement since coming to power in 1980 but blamed by critics for destroying the mainstay agricultural sector and causing food shortages.
In a letter to Social Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche, who is responsible for pension payouts, the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association said it wanted payouts, last hiked in January from Z$25 000 to Z$103 000 per month, increased to Z$500 000 per month.
This would leave war veterans – who do little else except campaigning for Mugabe and ZANU (PF) – earning the same as teachers and nurses.
“We the war veterans of Zimbabwe give you Honourable Minister up to March 14 2007 to address our problem,” read part of the veterans’ letter shown to ZimOnline.
Goche confirmed receiving the veterans’ letter and said the government was looking at making more money available to all pensioners and not just ex-combatants. – ZimOnline