Ex-detainees in Matabeleland not receiving government payouts

By Tererai Karimakwenda
6 July 2006

A former political prisoner and war veteran who split from the ruling party has accused the government of favouring ex-detainees who support ZANU-PF and rewarding them financially. Ernest Malandu told us all former political prisoners in the country are supposed to be receiving monthly payments from the government as stipulated in the Ex-Detainees Bill which became law last year. But he has not been paid at all and neither have many other ex-detainees in Matabeleland. Malandu said the vetting exercises to determine who gets benefits were held at ZANU-PF offices and ex-detainees in the rural areas of Matabeleland were never told.

Malandu told us he was a deputy organising secretary for the ruling party and he quit because he no longer agreed with what was happening in the country. He eventually became an independent candidate in the parliamentary elections and fell out of favour with ZANU-PF. Malandu said many ex-detainees are struggling to survive because they have nothing. But it is worse for those in the rural areas of Matabeleland. He believes they are targeted on many levels because it is no secret they do not support Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF.

An angry Malandu told us: “The people who fought in the liberation struggle did not get anything. As an ex-detainee and former ZAPU cadet I am worried about this. Even though the bill passed we still have a big problem. We are still struggling and not enjoying anything.”