Bulawayo— Zanu PF Chief Whip and Gutu South legislator Pupurai Togarepi has accused the government of violating the Constitution by excluding war collaborators, ex-detainees and non-combatant cadres from the benefits and recognition accorded to ex-combatants, as the 2027 National Pre-Budget Seminar entered its second day in Bulawayo.

Speaking during a plenary session at the ongoing 2027 National Pre- Budget Seminar Friday, Togarepi challenged the Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs for focusing its budget presentation almost exclusively on ex-combatants, arguing that the constitutional definition of liberation struggle veterans is far broader.

“My question is to the Minister. I heard her say that her ministry is called the Ministry of War Veterans of the Liberation Struggle, but what she was discussing was all about ex-combatants, excluding other veterans of the liberation struggle,” Togarepi said.

The Gutu South legislator, who has previously been associated with the Zimbabwe Liberation War Collaborators Association , said the failure to include war collaborators, ex-detainees and non-cadres in welfare programmes amounted to a breach of the supreme law.

The 2013 Constitution recognises four categories of veterans: war veterans, ex-political prisoners, detainees and restrictees, non-combatant cadres, and war collaborators .

“We are violating the Constitution if we are not including war collaborators, ex-detainees and non-cadres. Our Constitution made us vet veterans of the liberation struggle in 2022. Five years down the line, nothing has happened. We are awarding other citizens while leaving them behind,” he said.

“Life is lived once. They will all die and perish without being recognised for their contribution.”

His intervention underscores persistent grievances over the slow pace of vetting and disbursement of benefits to non-combatant veterans.

While over 207,000 applicants registered for vetting in 2021 and 150,434 were vetted by the end of 2022, thousands of war collaborators and detainees remain unaccredited or unpaid years later .

Echoing Togarepi’s concerns, Hon. Aliginia Samson called for the urgent settlement of all outstanding obligations to veterans and collaborators. She said the 2027 budget must close the chapter on delayed payments.

“Prioritise the prompt payment of benefits and dues to all vetted war veterans and collaborators of the liberation struggle,” Samson said.

She emphasised that the 2027 National Budget must ensure this long-standing chapter is “finally done and dusted, with all outstanding obligations fully paid.”

The Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs, led by Minister Mavhunga, is presenting its priorities at the seminar as Treasury prepares the 2027 estimates.

The ministry’s 2026 allocation stood at approximately ZiG1.1 billion, with recent pension reviews setting war veterans’ annual payouts at ZiG1,332,720, while former political prisoners, detainees and restrictees receive ZiG1,277,190 .

The ministry has also been pursuing economic empowerment projects through the Veterans Investment Holding Company, including agricultural operations, tourism concessions and mining assets intended to capitalise the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Fund.

However, legislators argue that such initiatives do not substitute for the direct recognition and welfare of non-combatant veterans who have waited decades for accreditation and payment.

The 2027 National Budget is expected to be presented by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube on November 19, with public consultations having already recorded strong calls for compensation for liberation war veterans .