Ngoni Dapira

THE Manicaland chapter of the Children of Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association (CZLWVA) says it is all systems go for the much anticipated national interface with President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa slated for next week Monday (5 October) at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC).

Running under the theme,”Veterans’ Children Safeguarding the Legacy and Advancing Vision 2030,” the children of veterans of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle from all-over the country will converge at the HICC to chart a way forward with the President in solidarity with his vision of transforming Zimbabwe into an upper-middle income society by 2030.

CZLWVA secretary general for Manicaland Province, Kleins Madondo, said the interface will establish a platform for them as children of liberation veterans to show their support to President Mnangagwa and participate in national empowerment and governance structures with Vision 2030 in mind.

‘’We have mobilised all our provincial members and we are looking forward to this interface with our President on October 5 as we plan a course of action and find each other as children of liberation veterans,’’ he said.

CZLWVA Manicaland Provincial secretary for information, Wonderful Mashingaidze, said this will be a historic launch not to be missed as they aim to safeguard the legacy of their parents that should never be forgotten. “Our President is steering development projects across the country. This is an opportunity for us to be heard and be part of the developmental agenda laid out by our father and President. It is high time we speak with one voice to protect the legacy of our parents some of them who died during the liberation war,” said Mashingaidze.

The associations’ national secretary for transport and welfare, Emmanuel Musabaika, urged all their members and all other children of liberation veterans not yet registered with their association to come and attend the momentous national meeting.

‘’We are in support of our President and Vision 2030. Transport has been secured from all the provinces. Food will be for free as well. This will be a historic day as we step up and unite as children of liberation veterans. We are eagerly waiting for the important day because it is now time to chart a new era for the plights of children of the liberation war veterans and support the vision of our nation,’’ said Musabaika.

Musabaika also thanked their national chairman Phinious Makombe from Midlands Province, for successfully coordinating the interface to its fruition. The incumbent CZLWVA national executive members were elected into office in February last year and hope to write their own history in transforming the association and its ethos.

He added that the discord amongst them as children of war veterans that prevailed in the past should be squashed, citing that unity is the only way they can meaningfully contribute to defending the gains of the liberation war that their fathers and mothers sacrificed a lot for.

‘’The President wants us to be united to help build our nation brick by brick se vene venyika. This is what this interface will be all about,’’ he said.

CZLWVA secretary for transport and welfare Manicaland Province, Mashias Munheru urged Manicaland members to go and register with their district chairpersons for travel arrangements to avoid any inconveniences.

“For travel arrangements from Maninicaland, we have four buses in Chipinge so far, Mutare has two buses, Zimunya-Marange two buses, Nyanga two buses, Mutasa two buses, Makoni two buses, Buhera two buses and Chimanimani two buses. We have however made a request for more buses and logistics are being made. Our food along the way we will eat in Marondera, but for those that would have come from far like Chimanimani and Chipinge they will eat earlier in Mutare. The rest of the districts will eat in Marondera. Everything is in order but please register with yo district chairpersons first,” said Munheru.

CZLWVA Manicaland Provincial secretary for finance, Chenai Bvuta buttressed on the unity now amongst them ever since the election of its new national leadership in February last year. She said divided they will fall but united they will conquer in whatever they set out to achieve as an association

“In Manicaland we are now united as children of war veterans and youths. Our parents were united and they played their part in the liberation war and now its our turn to preserve their legacy,’’ she said.

The interface is being held as the government scales up its empowerment and development agenda with Vision 2030 in mind. The meeting with the CZLWVA embraces President Mnangagwa’s national development mantra of ‘leaving no one and no place behind.’