Obey Musiwa
Herald Reporter
More than 15 000 children of Zimbabwe’s liberation war veterans are expected to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa at a Presidential interface aimed at creating platforms for their participation in empowerment and governance structures.
The interface will be held at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) on October 5 under the theme: “Veterans’ Children Safeguarding the Legacy and Advancing Vision 2030.”
The event is being organised by the Apex Council of Children of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle in partnership with the Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs and other affiliated organisations, including the Children of Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association (CZLWVA), led by Cde Phineas Makombe.
Speaking on behalf of Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs Monica Mavhunga, the minister’s office director, Ms Kudakwashe Mutsimbi, said the interface was intended to give veterans’ children a formal voice and improve their access to governance structures.
She said the engagement would also provide a platform for veterans’ children to contribute to national development while safeguarding the legacy of the liberation struggle.
She said the planning committee expects a turnout far larger than the venue may comfortably hold, and that attendance will extend beyond veterans’ children to families of other groups recognised under Zimbabwean law.
“We are targeting not less than 15,000. For us as the planning committee, we are actually scared that the venue may just overflow,” she said.
“The children, they were not formally recognised in terms of any of the structures of governance and empowerment in the country.”
“We want to have children of veterans being recognised in all the spheres: economic, social, perhaps political.”
She added that the children’s agenda is shifting from the war itself to national development, and that those educated through the veterans’ fund should now give back.
“We are moving from the period where we were concentrating more on the guns themselves, and now we want to talk about the bricks. It’s time for us to come together and give back to the government that educated us,” she said.
Red Rev Youth Empowerment Fund executive secretary Cde Clarrion Chigudu called upon all members to attend the event and said organisers expect every province to be represented. RedRev Youth is part of the committee organising the landmark Presidential Interface.
“We are calling you all on the 5th of October. We are expecting all provinces to come and attend such a prestigious event with His Excellency the President,” she said.
Cde Chigudu urged members of the fund to wear red so they can be easily identified, and said branded regalia is available at the fund’s office.
“We are encouraging you to wear red on the day of the event so that you can be easily identified,” she said
“Regalia is available at the office, your t-shirts, Children of War Veterans Regalia is also available.”
She said transport will be provided for participants from every province, with pickup details to be announced shortly before the event.
“Buses to ferry everyone will be available from all provinces at your usual pickup points. You will be advised of the pickup points in time just before the day,” she said.
Source: Veterans’ children to meet President – herald
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