IN a sharply-worded document submitted to the government by war veterans last week, the country’s liberators, some of whom are battling failing health, blasted the Zanu PF-led administration for neglecting the very people who delivered self-determination in 1980.
Waves of cancer, hypertension and diabetes — alongside war-related disabilities — are cutting through the ranks of former fighters at a terrifying pace, according to the document addressed to Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs minister Monica Mavhunga.
“Veterans are suffering from chronic illnesses, including cancer, hypertension, diabetes and disabilities,” the paper read. “Many cannot access treatment. This constitutes a breach of the right to healthcare and dignity.”
The dossier, exclusively obtained by the Zimbabwe Independent, painted a grim and deeply personal picture.
Liberation fighters said they had been left to fend for themselves by former comrades now running the state.
“We demand the establishment of a War Veterans Health Fund, free or subsidised access to healthcare, partnerships with health institutions and outreach programmes for rural veterans,” the document demanded.
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“The conditions under which many war veterans are living today contradict the values of dignity, equality and justice that defined the liberation struggle.”
In recent months, authorities have been handing over bicycles and other assets to the group, but beneficiaries say government is missing the point.
“This submission is grounded not only in moral obligation, but in binding constitutional and legal duties imposed on the state,” it said. “The Constitution of Zimbabwe provides clear protections. Section 23 obliges the state to recognise and provide for veterans of the liberation struggle.”
The veterans’ anger is sharpened by what they see as official indifference to a worsening health emergency.
“War veterans are dying from ailments that could be managed if proper medical support was available,” Ethan Mathibela, chairperson of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), told the Independent.
“Veteran pensioners are paid between US$153 and US$190 per month. They need closer to US$2 000, which was awarded by the High Court in 2000,” he said.
Beyond healthcare, the group demanded an economic redress package, including access to state tenders and structured financial support.
It argued that survival can no longer be separated from economic empowerment.
“This constitutes a breach of the right to healthcare and dignity,” the association said, reiterating its legal stance.
Last week’s confrontation marked a significant escalation in tensions between the ruling establishment and one of its historically most loyal constituencies.
Relations have deteriorated sharply since sections of war veterans openly opposed attempts to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure beyond 2028, arguing such a move would be unconstitutional.
Zimbabwe’s liberation war, among the most violent in Southern Africa, left deep physical and psychological scars. More than 50 000 people are estimated to have died, while thousands of survivors carried trauma into Independence.
For the estimated 60 000 fighters at Independence, that trauma never fully receded.
Decades later, it has collided with age, poverty and a fragile public health system to produce what the veterans now describe as a “health crisis”.
The sense of betrayal is compounded by history.
In 1997, the government awarded once-off payouts of Z$50 000 to war veterans in a move widely blamed for triggering the infamous “Black Friday” crash, when the Zimbabwe dollar lost over 70% of its value in a single day.
Last week’s dossier goes further, outlining a sweeping economic rescue plan aimed at restoring dignity and financial stability.
Key demands included the establishment of a War Veterans Empowerment Fund, and preferential access to public tenders.
“Reserved quotas or preferential procurement frameworks for veteran-owned enterprises in public tenders” were among the central demands.
Additional demands include subsidised transport schemes, fuel support, priority licensing for transport businesses and access to residential and commercial stands at concessional rates.
The ZNLWVA alleged a lack of transparency, accountability and tangible outcomes in an investment vehicle for its members.
“We demand full disclosure of terms of reference, publication of audited financial statements and inclusion of veterans in oversight structures,” the document demanded.
“If unresolved, war veterans reserve the right to pursue constitutional litigation, judicial review, parliamentary oversight and engagement with oversight institutions,” the association warned. “The dignity of war veterans is constitutionally-protected. We expect clear commitments, defined timelines and measurable outcomes.”
The confrontation comes at a politically-sensitive moment. War veterans have long been a decisive force in Zimbabwe’s political economy — from their central role in land reform to their backing of the military-assisted transition that removed former president Robert Mugabe in 2017, paving the way for Mnangagwa’s rise.
At the time of going to print, Mavhunga had not responded to questions posed by the Independent seeking understanding on how her ministry was addressing concerns raised by the war vets.
“These measures are not requests for privilege,” the association said. “They are a fulfilment of constitutional, moral and historical obligations to those who sacrificed for the liberation of Zimbabwe.”