By Ziyah News Editor
Zimbabwe’s War Collaborators who played a pivotal role during the armed struggle are getting close to being rewarded for their war effort as the Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle commences the final vetting phase for all War Collaborators and Non-Combatant Cadres.
The final vetting process dubbed the Mop-Up Exercise for War Collaborators and Non-Combatant Cadres has already been allocated a total of ZiG 47.2 million.
“The exercise represents the last major phase of a comprehensive verification effort to ensure all legitimate veterans are accurately recognized and appropriately honoured for their contribution to the nation’s independence,” reported Senator Mavhunga to Cabinet as contained in the cabinet briefing.
This current phase is coming after it was discovered that the initial one had excluded a significant number of veterans under this category due to an age technicality.
“The post-vetting assessment revealed that over 93 363 War Collaborators and Non-Combatant Cadres still require vetting. It was also realised that a significant number of War Collaborators were excluded due to an age limit imposed by the existing legislation, despite their recognition by wartime commanders as being among the most agile and effective participants in the struggle.”
The exercise will commence on the 25th of September 2024 and War Veterans who operated in specific areas will vet War Collaborators and the wartime operational command structure has been reactivated. Detachment/Zone Commanders will be responsible for the actual vetting supervised by their Sector/Region Page 4 Commanders.
For Non-Combatant Cadres, the vetting will be in provincial capitals across the country and will be conducted by Commanders of various transit camps. Individuals not satisfied with the outcome of the vetting process can appeal in terms of Section 9 of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act.
In terms of Section 8 (8) of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act, the names of the successful candidates shall be listed and published in the Government Gazette for thirty days after the conclusion of the vetting exercise to allow members of the public to make representations.