War veterans expressed their dissatisfaction with the government’s failure to pay their children’s tuition fees during the past two semesters.
The government pays tuition fees for children of former combatants in addition to other benefits in recognition of their role during the armed struggle.
However, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association secretary-general Edward Dube said the government was late in making payments.
Dube appealed to the government to move quickly to address this problem with universities that are scheduled to start classes this week.
The University of Zimbabwe resumed lectures on Monday.
“ZNLWVA asserts that this situation constitutes a failure on the part of the government to fulfill its obligations as set out in the legal provisions of the Liberation Struggle Veterans Act (Cap. 17:12) of 2020,” Dube said in the statement.
“The current scenario is untenable, as university students are denied access to basic services such as registration and accommodation.
Consequently, students find themselves in a state of dilemma and uncertainty, especially since some universities are scheduled to start classes this week.
He urged the government to prioritize the issue “so that learners are not exposed to unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, which ultimately hampers their educational progress.”
Dube reminded the government to support the fourth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals, which calls for providing comprehensive and equitable quality education with lifelong learning opportunities for all.
“The association urges the authorities to adhere to the principles set forth in this goal and address the current challenges faced by students,” he said.
“ZNLWVA calls on the relevant authorities to pay immediate attention to this issue, recognizing the importance of providing equitable access to education for children of war veterans.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that these students are not deprived of their right to education due to administrative delays.”
Contacted for comment, Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs for the Liberation Struggle, Monica Mavunga, urged former freedom fighters to contact the ministry.
“We have not received such calls from them. They should come to our offices and air their grievances so that they can be addressed,” she said.
However, Dube told NewsDay that they had been approaching the ministry on the matter since last year without success.
“The association is interested in engaging relevant stakeholders to ensure that learners are not biased by the bureaucracy that is taking place,” Dube told NewsDay.
In 1997, angry war veterans pressured the late Robert Mugabe to pay them a $50,000 reward for their role in the liberation struggle.
The veterans have been a vital cog in the ZANU-PF electoral machinery, leading the party’s campaigns. Newsday
