Andreas Mathibela, leader of a faction of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), has criticised the government for giving cars to private individuals.
Speaking at the launch of a new scheme to support struggling war veterans, Mathibela said such gifts are politically motivated and ignore the real needs of ordinary Zimbabweans. He said:
“I am only seeing a few individuals who are doing that [donating cars], and they are doing it for political mileage. I hope it is not the government that is doing this.
“If it is the government, it is very unfortunate. Their priorities then would not really be the right priorities because, as we speak, we have the healthcare services which are almost in shambles.
“We have our road network, our railway network. It really needs intensive rehabilitation.
“If it is the government that is busy dishing out those vehicles, I do not know what they want to achieve because the majority of Zimbabweans are not benefiting from such gestures.
“That’s why I don’t believe it is the government. I only hope I am proved wrong.”
Mathibela stressed that the former freedom fighters are not asking for handouts, but for recognition of their role in the liberation struggle. He said:
“The average former freedom fighter has nothing to show for it. To be more honest, they have nothing to show for it.
“Not that we are entitled to a comfortable life, but the reason why we went to war in the first place is to help them attain economic freedom.
“And that’s what the majority of us have not benefited from up to this day.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, along with his associates Wicknell Chivayo and Kudakwashe Tagwirei, have been giving vehicles to ZANU PF members, footballers, comedians, musicians, and preachers, among others.
Mathibela argued that these donations benefit only a small group, leaving the majority of Zimbabweans overlooked.
More: NewsDay
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