Mnangagwa humiliates war vets

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week stunned war veterans in Chiredzi when he dismissed their requests for a free reign over agricultural land, saying like everybody else, war veterans must follow the law and proper procedures if they want land.

The drama started when Killer Makuni, the ZANU PF Chiredzi District Chairman who also claims to be the district’s war veterans chairman, stood up and read a speech which was directed to the president bemoaning the long processes of applying for land.

Makuni requested that war veterans to be exempted from the application process, and be allowed to take any land they want anytime.

Mnangagwa, however, would have none of it, openly telling the present war veterans that like everybody else, they have to observe the constitution and other systems in place if they want land.

“I understand you fought for the land but you didn’t fight so that the land will benefit you alone but all the people of Zimbabwe so I urge you to apply for land and get offer letters just like any other people,” said Mnangagwa.

The Vice President told the gathering the law does not have any exemptions when it comes to procedural application for land.

“The constitution requires that everybody follows the law with no exceptions,” said Mnangagwa.

Prior to Mnangagwa’s response, Makuni had displayed confidence, expecting the VP’s support.

“We as war vets are against the fact that we have to apply to get the land which we fought for. It’s our benefit and we should access the land without any hindrance because it’s ours and some of our comrades died for that land so we, the remaining ones, should be left to enjoy our benefits.

“These estates like Arda should be given to us since we are the exact people who should benefit from this because we are the ones who fought for this land,” said Makuni.

Makuni complained for the lack of attention to widows of war veterans, stressing that government is doing nothing for them.

“We are not happy with what the Ministry of lands is doing and most widows of war vets tend to lose their allocated land once the husband has passed on and we do not know the criteria the Ministry of Lands is using in allocating offer letters,” said Makuni.news