Govt approves salary hikes to bribe war vets

By Tererai Karimakwenda
16 May 2006

The ‘AND network’ news reported Tuesday that ZANU-PF’s central committee and the politburo had approved new hefty salaries for war veterans in a restructuring of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA). The war vets currently receive monthly payouts which they demanded 9 years ago and were largely blamed for helping to drive Zimbabwe’s economy into ruin. But the new approved salaries are the result of recommendations made by a four-member committee set up by Robert Mugabe. This has left critics questioning the motive behind such a move, so soon after soldiers and teachers were promised salary increases as well. Observers are also wondering where the government plans to get the money from. There is consensus among opposition activists, civic leaders and religious groups that the government fears Zimbabweans are ready for mass action. They believe Mugabe is attempting to buy loyalty from the war vets, the military and civil servants before any anti-government protests break out.

Max Mkandla, president of The Zimbabwe LiberatorsVoice which represents peaceful war veterans who believe all Zimbabweans deserve benefits, told us the government is trying to persuade war vets in the association not to walk away from ZANU-PF and follow their chairman Jabulani Sibanda who was expelled from the ruling party last week. Mkandla said the majority of war vets have thrown their support behind Sibanda and the new ‘salaries’ are a bribe to keep them close so their activities can be monitored. Mkandla added that ZANU-PF has lost the support of its own members and is attempting to buy loyalty from the police, military, nurses and now the war veterans.

According to Mkandla, Sibanda is under surveillance and many of his subordinates were arrested last week and only released on Monday this week. Sibanda said the government fears war veterans are organising massive protests against Sibanda’s expulsion from ZANU-PF. Mkandla told us he himself was picked up by the police Tuesday morning 3am and released later the same day after interrogation. The police were trying to accuse him of mobilising war vets to demonstrate against ZANU-PF. We will have more on this on Wednesday.

The Mirror newspaper reported Tuesday that the four member committee set up by Robert Mugabe to restructure the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association consisted of former army generals Solomon Mujuru and Vitalis Zvinavashe, former intelligence chef Dumiso Dabengwa and the late Air Marshal Josiah Tungamirai. According to an AND news network report Dabengwa told war veterans at a meeting held in Lupane on Monday that his committee’s report had already been approved by Zanu-PF’s central committee and the politburo.

The Daily Mirror said reliable sources informed them the committee has recommended that the war vets be incorporated into the Zimbabwe National Army. Under the new structure an ordinary war veteran would now be equivalent to an army warrant officer Class 1, earning the equivalent monthly salary and benefits of between Z$27 million and Z$35 million. In addition every war veteran’s child pursuing secondary or tertiary education would receive Z$90 million. Primary school students would get Z$20 million for school fees. Dabengwa is reported to have said fake war veterans or false claims would be vetted out first.