ZIMBABWE People’s Revolutionary Army (Zipra) war veterans have criticised the government for holding on to their properties, arguing that the return of their assets must be part of a healing process when resolving the Gukurahundi atrocities.
The liberation war fighters’ deputy spokesperson Joakim Moyo said the return of properties was one of the low hanging fruit that is supposed to be dealt with first before the launch of the Gukurahundi hearings.
“The philosophy behind the acquisition of the properties was in line with black empowerment.We were not meant for charity cases and we initiated the idea together with our leadership who came and consulted us,” Moyo said.
“We respect the order of the day and we equally want to be respected too. We are liberators of ourselves and do not want to be dependent on anyone.”
He said the properties were acquired to rehabilitate Zipra war veterans, claiming that they were a national, non-partisan and liberation force which sought total liberation in social, economic and political spheres.
“Those properties were not going to employ Zipra war veterans only. The revolution was hijacked, it is now in comatose,” Moyo said.
However, reports indicate that Zipra’s Nitram Properties Committee has handed over its final list of 100 properties seized by the Zanu PF-led government at the height of the 1980s Gukurahundi disturbances and is now waiting for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to append his signature for the return of the properties.
Zipra veterans of the country’s 1970s war for independence bought several properties across the country with contributions from their demobilisation payouts.
