War veterans in Maphisa, Matabeleland South have approached the local authority seeking land to construct an office and three houses for former liberation fighters, a move that comes as the district prepares to host this year’s national Independence Day celebrations.
Maphisa Ward 19 councillor Nqobizitha Ngwenya confirmed that liberation war veterans recently tabled the proposal before council, requesting space for a district office and three residential stands where houses would be built and later handed over to selected veterans.
Ngwenya said councillors considered the proposal and directed council officials to identify land where the facilities could be constructed.
“The war veterans initially approached council saying they wanted to put a cabin inside council premises so that it becomes a temporary office for them while they are waiting for council to give them land,” Ngwenya told Southern Eye weekly.
“We refused because that could create a conflict of interest and we know they would not behave well around council operations.
“So we said we could not give them space within the council yard, but they should make a formal application so that we look for land elsewhere.”
He said council’s spatial planners later identified vacant land near residential areas where the project could be located.
“It’s a residential area, so they will be given three stands for houses and another stand for the office.
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“The houses will benefit three war veterans and their ministry will construct them,” Ngwenya said.
According to Ngwenya, the ministry responsible for war veterans intends to complete the houses before the end of the year and hand them over to beneficiaries chosen by the veterans’ leadership.
“When we asked about the criteria that will be used to select the beneficiaries, they said that would be handled by them. However, we encouraged them to make sure that those who benefit are the ones who are suffering the most rather than their bosses,” he said.
Ngwenya added that the war veterans currently operate from rented premises in Maphisa and have struggled to meet rental costs, hence the push to build a permanent office.
“They are renting from a private property and are failing to keep up with the rent. That is why they want land so they can build their own office,” he said.
A war veteran who spoke to this publication said the proposed houses were meant to serve as demonstration projects.
“It is just a norm that houses are built as an example of what the houses for war veterans should look like,” he said.
“In this case two or three people will benefit, but we call them demonstration houses. When government gets money, these are the types of houses they should build for us.”
He added that the association currently does not have a permanent office and has been operating from rented premises.
Meanwhile, Mlungisi Ndebele, the provincial officer for the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association in Matabeleland South, confirmed that land had been secured for the houses while efforts were continuing to identify a suitable site for the office.
“We got three stands so far for the houses that will be commissioned. For the office, we are still searching,” Ndebele said.
“At the moment we have been renting, but now we want to build our own office.”
He said the contractor engaged for the project had indicated that only three houses would be constructed in the initial phase, with a few beneficiaries expected to receive them once completed.
