.…ZNLWVA National chairman Moffat Elias Marashwa
Sharleen Mohammed
War veterans have called for surviving spouses to receive either the full pension or at least 75 percent of what their deceased spouses were receiving, while also proposing that 2 percent of local investment be channelled towards the welfare of war veterans and their families.
The demands were raised at the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) Annual General Meeting held in Harare yesterday, where delegates said the welfare system must take into account the needs of ageing veterans, widows, widowers, children and other dependants.
“The shops they used to buy from remain the same, groceries remain the same, it is just one plate removed from the table and the salary is cut in half,” a delegate said, arguing that the death of a war veteran does not cut the family’s basic expenses by half.
War veterans currently receive about US$153 a month, according to figures raised at the meeting, while a surviving spouse receives half of the veteran’s pension.
Delegates said widows and widowers should therefore receive the full pension or at least 75 percent, saying families continue to face the same costs of food, education and other household needs after the death of the veteran.
They also called for children and other dependants of liberation war veterans to receive stronger welfare support.
On investment, delegates said 2 percent of local investment should be set aside for the welfare and economic empowerment of war veterans and their families.
They said such a mechanism could create a more sustainable source of funding for veterans’ welfare and family support, rather than leaving ageing veterans and their dependants dependent mainly on monthly pensions.
National chairman Cde Moffat Elias Marashwa said the association was engaging Government over the pension, which he described as very paltry.
Marashwa also said the association was advocating for medical aid cover for its members as the liberation war generation grows older.
“The veterans of the chimurenga war are getting older,” Marashwa said, explaining the association’s move towards a family-based model for its economic projects.
He said the family model was intended to ensure that economic projects continue benefiting veterans’ households as responsibilities are gradually transferred to younger family members.
The AGM also heard calls for continued support for war veterans in areas including land, mining, agriculture and access to equipment for income-generating projects.
Delegates said welfare should not end with the individual veteran, but should extend to families who depend on them.
The meeting was the association’s first Annual General Meeting since 2024, with the leadership reporting on efforts to rebuild the organisation and strengthen its programmes.