The Sunday News
The Government has allocated an undisclosed amount of money for payment of outstanding school fees for children of former freedom fighters, Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga has said. In an interview on the sidelines of the late Brigadier General John Zingoni’s memorial service in Gweru yesterday, Gen Chiwenga said ZDF engaged Treasury after receiving complaints that there were delays in the provision of funds for school fees for children of former liberation war fighters.
Gen Chiwenga said the funds were adequate to pay outstanding school fees and tuition fees for those in tertiary institutions.
“We are very aware that children of former freedom fighters were failing to access funds for the payment of the school fees on time resulting in some being sent away from schools or being turned away at tertiary institutions over non-payment of fees.
“We have engaged Treasury which availed funds. I am not able to disclose the amount at the moment but the funds have been made available.
The money, however, is only a portion that can only cover outstanding fees. We are going to continue engaging Treasury to avail more funds so that children of former liberation war fighters will not be sent away from school over non-payment of fees,” he said.
Gen Chiwenga said the delay in the payment of fees for former freedom fighters’ children was as a result of the economic challenges that the country was facing.
“The delay in the payment of fees for freedom fighters’ children has been as a result of the general non-performance of the economy which has also been affecting the whole country. ZDF has committed itself to cater for the welfare and upkeep of former officers and generals’ widows and children through empowerment programmes such as Musha Mukadzi,” he said.
Addressing people at the memorial service, Gen Chiwenga described the late Brig Gen Zingoni as a distinguished and dedicated loyal cadre and an astute commander.
“He is one of the country’s most illustrious sons, a distinguished and dedicated loyal revolutionary. He was a fearless veteran freedom fighter, a loyal cadre, a dedicated career soldier and an astute commander all rolled into one. We knew him as Cde Tichatonga Broker Chiwawa,” he said.
The late Brig Gen Zingoni, whose Chimurenga name was “Broker Chiwawa”, was born on 27 August 1954 in Chief Mapanzure’s area in Masvingo Province. He went to Musingarabwi Primary School and Chikato Secondary School up to ZJC between 1969 and 1970.
He joined the liberation struggle in 1976 when he crossed into Mozambique through Chikwalakwala border and was met by Frelimo soldiers who were based along the Mozambique-Rhodesia border before joining Zanla Cadres at Machipanda.
At Independence, Brig Gen Zingoni was sent to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to do an Infantry Commanders’ Course.
He was later attested into the Zimbabwe National Army in 1981 as a private soldier and appointed Equivalent Captain.
Brig Gen Zingoni died last month at Thornhill Airbase Private Hospital in Gweru after a short illness.
He is survived by wife Wadzanai and three children, Fungai (34), Chido (25) and Tapiwa (21).
