Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) has threatened to stage a sit-in demonstration at, Mtuli Ncube’s offices next week, accusing the the minister for failure to honour commitments to pay their statutory benefits.
In a letter to Finance Minister, Ncube seen by The Harare Times dated January 22, 2026, ZNLWVA Secretary General, Sam Parerenyatwa said his association would convene a national executive council meeting on January 31 at the ZANU PF Headquarters in Harare to formalise the intended action.
“As the leadership of the veterans of the liberation struggle, we stand accused of not doing enough to push for the welfare of our membership as expected. Under immense pressure from our membership and prevailing situation, we have resolved to make a final demand, as we hereby do through the copy of this letter, for the immediate payment of our statutory benefits before the end of this month.
“The ZNLWVA is holding its national executive council meeting in Harare on the 31st of January at our party Zanu PF headquarters. At that meeting, a resolution is to be put in place for a sit-in strike at your offices starting Monday 2nd of February 2026 until payment has been made into our Ministry of Veterans Affairs coffers. Veterans of the liberation struggle, their spouse and children shall partake in the sit-in until payment is done”, part of the letter reads.
Parerenyatwa said the move followed Treasury’s failure to honour promises made during a meeting in January last 2025.
“During our deliberations in your office on the 16th January 2025, the top 10 National Executive members presented our challenges as veterans of the liberation struggle with regards to the payment of our statutory benefits.
“We advised you that we had a meeting with our Patron, President ED Mnangangwa, who then instructed us to meet you in order to sort out our challenges. You listened carefully and undertook to address our challenge starting within the next 2 weeks. We were very excited as we left your office. We reported the positive outcome to our members who were equally excited.”
However, he said the promise was never fulfilled and living conditions for the freedom fighters had since deteriorated.
“Ever since our meeting with you, our situation has further deteriorated to an extent that our membership school fees has not been paid for almost two years. Some of our children have already dropped out of school due to non-payment of fees by your office.
“Worse still, your office is neglecting on the payment of medical benefits. A lot of our members are bedridden and our death rate has sharply increased of late due to non-payment of our medical statutory benefits by your office. You are aware, Hon Minister, that all veterans are of advanced age hence their medical support becomes preeminent.”
He also accused treasury of starving the ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs of funds.
“When we raise complaints with our ministry of Veterans Affairs, mandated with welfare of our membership, we are quick to be told that there is no money from treasury, hence their coffers are dry.
“Officers at our ministry of Veterans Affairs are always by your office to secure payment for our benefits, but they always come empty handed. It has become a norm,” Parerenyatwa wrote.
The war veterans’ leader said the failure to pay their benefits amounted to a constitutional violation.
“It baffles the mind as to why you decide to ignore and forsake our plight, which you are constitutionally obligated to honour. We are well convinced that you are aware that our benefits are statutory and mandatory.
“We cannot continue suffering and dying en masse, as we are currently doing while you continue to withhold our statutory benefits. Shocking death statistics are emanating from various provinces. Heroes’ declaration office has the testimony,” he added.
Efforts to get a comment from Ncube were unsuccessful as his mobile phone was unavailable.
