War victims and survivors association launched

AN UNWAVERING commitment to liberation struggle founding values and President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision has forced the Zimbabwe War Victims Association (ZWVA) founder, Vongai Mutokoti to launch the War Victims and Survivors Association of Zimbabwe (WVSAZ).

During a press conference held in Harare today, Mutokoti also said Mnangagwa has outshone other African leaders in initiating programmes that address victims of the liberation struggles’ plight.

Mutokoti said her new organisation will exclusively cater for victims and survivors who like herself were  bombed and maimed, young children who were  orphaned and widows who suffered during the war among others.

“To war victims and survivors we will work tirelessly to provide assistance, advocate for your rights and create programmes that contribute to your healing and well-being.

The realisation that there were deviant members in the ZWVA leadership, had forced her to make the hard decision to abandon the organisation she had founded, she said.

 “During the association’s development, certain members whom I believed shared the same vision with myself decided to take a different path.

“With the advent of the new dispensation and the coming into office of His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa, as  chairperson I felt that there was a need to align our vision and objectives to the goals to the president’s vision, NDS1 and Vision 2030.

“However, my fellow colleagues and other outlying leadership of the Zimbabwe War Victims Association  felt differently which was our point of departure

She said the WVSAZ was, in alignment with Mnangagwa’s vision, an initiative whose roots were anchored on a deep-seated desire to recognise and transform the lives of those who were at the brunt of the liberation war.

She expressed her concern on the activities of deviant war veterans who were double dipping in an organisation that was created specifically for the needs of victims and survivors of the liberation struggle.

“With the current leadership of the association as it is I have discovered an intention to morph the association to  also cater for the benefits of the war veterans as well.

“While I am not opposed to the welfare of war veterans, I believe it will put too much pressure on the government and fiscus if one Ministry is already catering for  war veterans and the association take on the same job.”

She implored  all stakeholders including government, civil society organisations and international partners to come on board and work with her organisation.

Mutokoti, was amputated at the age of 14 following a landmine explosion in 1976.

But that was not a deterrent, her outstanding work in the coomunity has led to the conferment of the Independence Medal by Mnangagwa.