War Veterans’ Welfare Crisis: ZNLWVA Alarms Over Rising Deaths and Government Neglect

HARARE — The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) has sounded a grave alarm over a sharp increase in deaths among ex-combatants, citing systemic neglect, chronic poverty, and a lack of medical funding as the primary drivers of the crisis. The concerns were raised during a weekend gathering celebrating the elevation of Paul Tungwarara to the ZANU-PF central committee, where the rate of mortality among the nation’s liberation-era fighters was described as "alarming".

Douglas Mahiya, the ZANU PF national secretary for war veterans, addressed the gathering with a plea for urgent intervention, noting that the deaths extend beyond former fighters to include collaborators, ex-detainees, and restrictees. The trend has claimed the lives of dozens of veterans in recent years, including high-ranking serving and retired generals, many of whom were instrumental in the 2017 "military-assisted transition".

In a subsequent interview, ZNLWVA Secretary-General Sam Parirenyatwa criticized the government for "turning a blind eye" to the medical predicament of those who secured Zimbabwe's independence.

Key grievances cited by the association include:

• Zero Medical Funding: A reported lack of medication funding from the Treasury to the Ministry responsible for veterans' affairs.

• Unanswered Engagement: Repeated attempts to engage the government on welfare issues have reportedly gone unacknowledged.

• Home-Based Deaths: Many veterans are allegedly dying at home because they cannot afford or access professional medical support.

Parirenyatwa further highlighted the invisible scars of the liberation war, stating that many veterans suffer from untreated post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These mental health challenges are being compounded by acute poverty and a sense of social abandonment, leading to what the association describes as the nation "forsaking its gallant fighters".

As the vanguard of the liberation struggle ages, the ZNLWVA’s warning serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for a robust social safety net for those who shaped the country's history.

Zimbabwe war veterans deaths 2026