Demobilisation Directorate
The Demobilisation Directorate was an institution and fund set up in July 1981 after Zimbabwe attained independence from British rule. It fell under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. The directorate's first director was John Shonhiwa (Zanu), who was deputised by Phelekezela Mphoko (Zapu)
The task of the Directorate was to coordinate activities and programmes for the ex-combatants with relevant government ministries.[1]
At ceasefire, ex-combatants who had gone into 45 Assembly Points (APs) around the country were then attested into the national army as part of Demobilisation but this was not a success. ex-combatants were therefore offered between $400 and $600 Zimbabwean dollars (equivalent to UK Pound at that time). It's reported that the few who took the money, spent all of it and went back to the APs.[1]
The total number of demobilised ex-combatants was 41,000 according to the Demobilisation Directorate. These ex-combatants were entitled to $185 monthly for 2 years (distributed via the Post Office Savings Bank) to help them build new lives.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Judith Garfield Todd, Through the Darkness: A Life in Zimbabwe, ISBN 177022002X, 9781770220027, Zebra, Published:2007, Retrieved:10 Dec 2014
