War Vets demand $18k ahead of April Indaba

According to defence minister, Sydney Sekeramayi, the meeting will take place on April 7 in Harare.

Ahead of the announcement of the date, some war veterans met in Makoni on Monday to deliberate on the issues they would want Mugabe to address.

Guest speaker, secretary for Disabilities Joel Mureremba, said war veterans were promised Z$50, 000 compensation in 1997 which he said converts to US$18 000 today but some have yet to receive the funds.

“President Mugabe should address the reasons why the money is taking long to be disbursed,” said Mureremba. He said there were also a number of issues that needed to be addressed including fees for their children, unpaid gratuities, medical allowances and allocation of farms, to mention a few.

“Freedom fighters should not be insulted and we want that to be discussed. War veterans should be recognized and enjoy their rights because they are the gallant sons and daughters who waged a protracted struggle to liberate this country,” said Mureremba.

He said it was high time the truth about the situation on the ground was told to their patron.

“The truth should be told to the patron (Mugabe) and the time is now,” he said.

President Robert Mugabe’s crucial meeting with war veterans could decide the fate of Zanu PF as the former fighters want the veteran ruler to deal with members of G40, a group which is reportedly being fronted by his wife, Grace.

On Wednesday, Sekeramayi said the meeting would chat the “way forward as we build the country”, claiming that “detractors” were “working overtime to reverse the gains of independence”.

There is disharmony in Zanu PF as factional groups continue to outclass each other in the succession race to replace their aged leader. Ranged against the G40 is the Lacoste Team, a faction led by Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is believed to be interested in the top job.