LLOYD MBIBA • 28 JUNE 2015 • Daily News (Zimbabwe)
HARARE – Firebrand has lashed President Robert Mugabe and his ruling Zanu PF party for allegedly failing to look after the welfare of former liberation war fighters.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily News yesterday, Sibanda said the failure by the government to pay school fees for the children of war veterans was clear testimony that the nonagenarian and the ruling party did not care about the welfare of ex-combatants and their families.
“They do not care about us. It is sickening that we are not getting money for our children’s fees. When I was leading the war veterans, I raised these issues but what was clear was that they did not care about us.
“Some of the war veterans are disabled and if government doesn’t pay for their children, who will? Some like us were lucky to have found employment but what then happens to those who are unemployed?” Sibanda fumed.
“Look at our country, it is very difficult for war veterans to see the president and raise their concerns. When I was still the leader of war veterans, it was easier for me to see leaders of other countries than Mugabe. That is the attitude they have towards war veterans.
“The issues that I wanted to raise to the President were constitutional matters because war veterans and their welfare are embodied in the Constitution.
“So you see, there is no regard for the Constitution, it’s a document meant to be kept in a drawer. All problems war veterans are facing are because of the bad attitude of the ruling party and its leadership. If we go to Parliament you will see that MPs like (Priscilla) Misihairabwi–Mushonga are the ones raising issues to do with war veterans. Who is Misihairabwi–Mushonga? An opposition MP.
“Where are the MPs from the ruling party? They do not care about us although we sacrificed our lives for them to be in power today,” Sibanda added.
He also pointed out that it had been significant that Mugabe had allegedly failed to thank war veterans after they secured his and Zanu PF’s disputed 2013 poll victory.
“Let me tell you, as war veterans, we worked very hard after Mugabe came out third in the 2008 elections with 43 percent. (Morgan) Tsvangirai was second with 47 percent and the winner was the Constitution with 51 percent.
“After that, every member of the association contributed money to go around the country for four years and 11 months campaigning for Zanu PF. We worked very hard that they retain power and we were never recognised after what we did.
“After securing them a victory still we did not have a minister of war veterans. A minister was only appointed after my executive was booted out in Masvingo last year,” Sibanda said.
Contacted for comment, War Veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa referred the Daily News to his permanent secretary, Brigadier General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi, to get answers about delayed school fees for the children of war veterans, but he was not available.
Comments (9)
i think for the country to head in the right direction the indegenisation law has to be reveresed. it must be 50-50 or 51 to them and 49 to us.
moyo – 28 June 2015
Will Jabulani Sibanda please tell us the nature and method of the “hard work” they did during those 4 years and 11 months. If recalled to Zanu Pf service would you take up the same “hard work” again for the same puropose? Put the record straight, what tactics did you employ?
abri – 28 June 2015
the problem is most of us are thinking about the here and now and we are forgetting about the next generation. our crime as zimbabweans is that our politics does not care to put in place a good foundation for the next generation. no wonder they are fed-up with us.
tula – 28 June 2015
what Jabulani is trying to say Abri is that after magabe lost the first round of the elections, the war veterans and zanu thugs went around the country torturing, beating up civilians who voted for the opposition but that was never recognised or rewarded by magabe. i guess thats the hard work he is talking about.
nyanisi nyanisi – 28 June 2015
Jabu you worked hard for the party and everybody appreciates that.You only got lost when you were misled into believing that Mujuru has the support of the people.I can urge you co appologize and come back to the party that has the needs of people at heart.Do not intertain the daily news giving you acres of space you may not find your way back
mike – 28 June 2015
Now that Jabulani Sibanda is in the cold-room, he can afford to talk this crap. People never learn
Chimbwido Warvert – 28 June 2015
Now that Jabulani Sibanda is in the cold-room, he can afford to talk this crap. It is too little to late to come out with this position you never publicly supported when you were the leader of the war veterans. Can we persuaded to think otherwise that you really cared about the welfare of the war veterans or in furthering your own personal interests. Please tell this dude that he can not fool the real war veterans, now that he is sitting in harsh weather of Siberia.
Chimbwido Warvert – 28 June 2015
Now that Jabulani Sibanda is in the cold-room, he can afford to talk this crap. It is too little to late to come out with this position you never publicly supported when you were the leader of the war veterans. Can we persuaded to think otherwise that you really cared about the welfare of the war veterans or in furthering your own personal interests. Please tell this dude that he can not fool the real war veterans, now that he is sitting in harsh weather of Siberia.
Chimbwido Warvert – 28 June 2015
Really, do war vets at this stage have children of school going age? it is my opinion that the country can not afford such welfare to only a certain group amid the poverty. War vets, have mercy, you got demob, 50k, training etc, as assistance after chimurenga II, yet you still need to remain on welfare. pls Jabu have mercy on the masses!
FORBESKA – 28 June 2015