The Sunday News
Precious Maphosa, Sunday News Reporter
The Government has re-affirmed its commitment to pay school fees for war veterans’ children saying delays were caused by lack of fiscal space, amid reports that some schools were withholding results for the children.
In an interview with Sunday News, Deputy Minister of Defence and War Veterans Cde Victor Matemadanda said the Government would ensure fees for the children of war veterans were paid, but said there were some constraints which were affecting them which could not be divorced from economic issues.
“As the Government we have been ensuring that we pay fees for war veterans’ children and we continue to do so as it is our obligation, however, the Government is failing to pay for all the children in time as there is not enough money. It could be very true that some children who wrote their examinations last year have not been able to collect their results because there is still an outstanding balance which we have not covered but we will ensure that we meet our obligations. Schools should, however, desist from withholding results especially for war veterans’ children,” said Cde Matemadanda.
He said that there were various projects being implemented to benefit war veterans and war collaborators.
“We have put our members in the Command Agriculture initiative, we have involved our members in the restocking of cattle and also poultry projects. At the present we have a programme with Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to try and make sure that war veterans are empowered.
They are being trained on how to manage their projects and programme so as to ensure that there is capacity building,” he said.
Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Cde Edgar Moyo said it was unlawful for schools to withhold results and send home children who did pay the fees.
“Every child has the right to education therefore withholding results is a violation of that right. The Ministry of Defence and War Veterans should ensure that the children have documents which prove that the child will have their fees paid for under the War Veterans’ Fund, and if that confirmation is brought to school then that child should be allowed to collect results and also be in class even if the ministry has not paid,” said Deputy Minister Moyo
@Precious Maphos7
