via War veterans demonstrate over funds | The Herald October 31, 2013
War veterans demonstrated against senior officials in the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association in Harare on Tuesday, accusing them of misappropriating about US$6 million meant for their children’s school fees. A group of war veterans matched along Nelson Mandela Avenue until they reached their Linquenda House destination demanding an explanation from ZNLWA director Cde Richard Ruwodo of what became of the funds. However, Cde Ruwodo was not available at Linquenda House. The war veterans alleged the Ministry of Finance disbursed enough money to cater for their children’s education, which they alleged was abused.
“Money was released from the Ministry but surprisingly, our children are being turned away from their respective schools due to unpaid fees. We spoke to the relevant people within the Ministry of Finance and we were told that enough money had been released towards the tuition for our children in all the 10 provinces,” said one disgruntled war veteran who refused to be named.
War veterans said that was not the first time they experienced delays in the payment of the children’s school fees, urging authorities to intervene.
The war veterans believe the money was being misused at the expense of the children’s education resulting in interruption of studies as well as strained relations with school officials.
“Right now some of our children are writing end-of-year examinations and the school authorities are demanding payment of fees that we expect should have been paid up by now”.
Mr Ruwondo yesterday denied the allegations.
“There is a batch that has not yet been released by the Government and we have scheduled a meeting with Treasury to make a request for these funds. All these are just assumptions from these people (demonstrators) and efforts are being made to set the record straight,” he said.
ZNLWA chairman Cde Jabulani Sibanda, yesterday confirmed there were problems regarding the payment of school fees for war veterans’ children as disbursement of funds was always delayed.
“I am yet to get the facts about the current situation but I can confirm that there have been on-going problems. I am going to talk to the administrators of the money and ministry officials to get to the bottom of the matter,” he said.
COMMENTS
I think that these guys deserve to be respected no matter how much we may think otherwise of their motives or actions!!!
I’m conflicted, but it’s good anytime ZANUPF corruption is exposed so publicly.
Also am reminded that the war vets had much to do with the intimidation and violence in 2008. So, since ZANUPF is gonna steal from someone whenever funds are available, it may as well be ZANUPF supporters.
REAL WAR VETS SHOULD NOT BE HAVING KIDS IN SCHOOL!33 plus 16 equals 47 years!
War vets having schoo; going kids /strange and fishy.1980 youngest war vet, 20yrs now 53yrs.
lol Fallenz good one. I respect the true war vets but this is not the first time it has been looted by their so called brothers so they still court zanu PF so they must live with its rot.
Htina basa nazvo zvimaWar vets izvi! 98% of them are fake ones after all! kure uko!
Havasirivo here vokutngera mombe ma cabbage gore riya ivava? We also want figures of how many they were in 1980 and how many they are now?
a man can have a child at 55 or 60.now do your maths and you will see that some vets have school going kids.university students are also paid for
YES, WHEN THEY MARRY THEIR “GRANDDAUGHTERS”!!!!!!!!!!!!
Am more hurt by the misapropriation of funds than lack of school fees payment to their kids. Some of them got compesantion of 100% disability before a once off lump sum of £50 000 then a hemorrhagic stipend. We saw them drop their bicycles for cherokees, abandon their wifes for mistresses of which we are now asked to fork grant for these additional marriages.
If these kids are to be assisted, they should be from constitutional legitimate unions or else we are forever ransomed. We respect our brothers, we fed, clothed, in fact protect them from all forms of harm in the struggle.
When reason prevailed among them, we never hesitated, but now they should look into the mirror and ask themselves if ever they are still a true fish in protective waters.
We attained independence together, lost our freedometer together until we agree only then shall we rediscover each other and restore and gain respect amongst ourselves and those around us.
If the war vets were the champions of land invasion ,saying farming has money, then why are you crying for paltry money when the farmers you displaced could manage million dollar holidays in Hawaii?Be sober and tell the nation zvekurima zvatikona.
Who are these who vets? What age group are they? They are all fake . Everybody took part in the struggle , some of us we lost our relatives and we received no compensation . I can name a few who grew up as orphans .
I doubt that there are many true so called “war vets” still alive today, many would have perished from aids and in Zimbabwes intervention in Mocambique in the early 90,s
Most of these blood suckers are just lazy layabouts who don,t want to work.
Why is the money released to an Association instead of the individual. The story is masking the truth please Herald tell the truth .Why people have to demonstrate bring clear fraud if it exists. The government must take action promptly if the money was released. Just report to police. Government dumped the so called war criminals.
Both my parents were war veterans n they ar all deceased m even shocked kut war veterans kids ar bing paid for their fees coz hatina kumbobvira tazviona
True heroes don cry for compensation.the moment you cry heroism vanishes.you automatically become a mecenary