News Day has expressed concern over continued compensation to war veterans for their sacrifices during the liberation struggle. The publication observes that the government is continuously robbing future generations as resources that could be invested are now being spent on war veterans.
The publication applauds the liberation fighters and acknowledges their contribution to the country. It only observes that over appreciating them has adverse consequences to the country. The author of the article says:
Our indebtedness can never be repaid by whatever means, be it monetary or otherwise.
And each effort to shore up the country’s perpetual gratitude should be commended and welcome at every turn. We, however, wish to throw in a word of caution on an issue that some feel has the potential of perpetuating our misery as a nation.
These remarks come as President Emmerson Mnangagwa has decreed that the allocation of land will, with immediate effect, prioritise the war veterans.
The publication added that Mnangagwa’s decree is contrary to the ongoing land audit which intends to address underutilisation of land. This, as News Day observes was likely to stifle the agriculture sector further. The article further reads:
It’s still fresh in our minds that the same war veterans in 1997 forced government to pay them $50 000 once-off gratuities each which sent the economy into a tailspin and crushed the local currency.
News Day further suggests that unemployed graduates could help in resuscitating the economy had they been prioritised in the next round of land allocation.
More: News Day