The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
PROPERTIES that were acquired by war veterans under the Zimbabwe Ex-Combatants (Zexcom) Foundation Investment Fund should be relooked into and measures put in place to ensure they benefit the former freedom fighters.
In an interview, Zanu-PF National Secretary for War Veterans Cde Douglas Mahiya, said the matter of Zexcom properties needed to be addressed urgently.
“In 1997 when war vets rose up to protest against non-availability of pensions when life was tough, the then President (Robert Mugabe) agreed that war vets be paid Z$500 000 but he did not have the money but pledged Z$50 000 instead.
“On that Z$50 000 that was given to the people, it was initiated that they put money together and that money be used to form Zexcom and they went into investments and purchased buildings, one in Harare and another in Bulawayo.
“For some reasons there was mismanagement or mishandling of the affairs of the company to an extent that it became defunct and placed under curatorship.
“The war veterans are complaining and we are saying it is prudent that this area be revisited and the issue brought to light. War veterans that contributed their money must get benefits.”
Cde Mahiya urged Zanu-PF and the Government to assist war veterans in finding out what happened.
In 1998, nearly 5 000 ex-combatants pooled their resources together, each depositing their contributions through then Kingdom Bank to form the company, which by 2001 was valued at $15 million.
The freedom fighters came together under the leadership of the late national hero Dr Chenjerai Hunzvi and pooled their resources together after getting Z$50 000 gratuity each from Government.
Zexcom had invested in various sectors of the economy to enhance the future earnings of war veterans’ and their dependants.
The investments were in the form of properties and included shareholding in various local companies such as Delta, Econet and Kingdom Bank.
However, disputes at Zexcom board level arose, resulting in the company being placed under judicial management.
Last week at the Bulawayo meeting Cde Mahiya promised to ensure that the veterans were assisted in their welfare together with their children as well as widows of the late freedom fighters.
