The Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZPRA) Veterans Association has delivered a sharp rebuke to the government over what it describes as decades of neglect towards liberation war veterans and ordinary citizens, as the country marks Heroes Day.
In a strongly worded press statement, the association urged authorities to move beyond ceremonial speeches and military parades by taking decisive action to address the long-standing grievances of those who fought for the nation’s independence. The veterans demanded urgent prioritisation of land allocation, guaranteed welfare for ex-combatants, and fair economic opportunities for all Zimbabweans.
“We cannot continue to celebrate Heroes Day with speeches and parades while the true heroes of our independence are left behind,” said ZPRA Veterans Association deputy spokesperson Joakim Moyo. “This is trivialisation and an insult to the costly revolutionary commitment never seen before in this country and beyond.”
The statement painted a grim picture of the conditions many surviving ZPRA veterans face. Despite their pivotal role in the liberation struggle, large numbers reportedly live in poverty, without access to land or sustainable livelihoods.
“Many of the surviving veterans live in poverty, without access to the land they fought for and without meaningful livelihoods,” Moyo explained. “Widows and orphans of the struggle remain marginalised, while the broader masses continue to face unemployment, poor housing, and limited access to economic opportunities.”
The veterans stressed that these challenges are not simply about personal welfare, but about fulfilling promises made during the liberation war — promises they say have been ignored or abandoned in the decades since independence.Beyond economic neglect, the association accused the government of attempting to downplay or erase ZPRA’s contribution to Zimbabwe’s liberation history. They alleged that the national narrative increasingly credits the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) with the liberation victory, sidelining the role of ZPRA fighters.
“The current history is gradually elbowing out the ZPRA effort and crediting ZANLA with it. This reduces the great ZAPU–ZPRA effort to nominal,” the statement declared. “The blood that won our freedom must yield a harvest for all.”
This perceived historical marginalisation, the veterans warned, risks distorting the legacy of the liberation struggle and deepening divisions among former fighters and their political descendants.
ZPRA Veterans Accuse Government of Neglect as Heroes Day Commemorations Begin
The ZPRA Veterans Association outlined a set of demands aimed at addressing what they see as systemic neglect. These include:
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Prioritising land allocation for liberation war veterans and their families.
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Guaranteeing veterans’ welfare, including pensions, healthcare, and housing.
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Ensuring fair economic participation for all Zimbabweans, particularly those from historically marginalised communities.
The veterans argued that empowering people — particularly those who sacrificed for the country’s freedom — would unleash “unlimited and transforming effort” to build a more prosperous nation.
“Empower people and you have unleashed unlimited and transforming effort,” Moyo said. “The blood that won our freedom must yield a harvest for all.”
While the veterans’ grievances centre on liberation war promises, they linked their demands to the broader struggles faced by many Zimbabweans today. High unemployment, limited access to economic opportunities, and a shortage of affordable housing were cited as issues affecting not only veterans but the wider population.
The association stressed that addressing veterans’ needs should not be seen as preferential treatment but as a step towards fulfilling the liberation struggle’s original goals of equality, justice, and empowerment for all.
As Heroes Day commemorations continue, the government has not yet issued an official response to the ZPRA Veterans Association’s statement. Political analysts say the strongly worded remarks could increase pressure on the authorities to revisit veterans’ welfare policies and address the historical grievances of ZPRA fighters, which have long simmered beneath the surface of national politics.
For many veterans, Heroes Day serves as a bittersweet reminder — a celebration of the independence they fought for, but also a stark reflection on the unfulfilled promises that followed. The ZPRA Veterans Association has vowed to continue advocating for recognition, fair treatment, and tangible benefits for those who risked their lives to free the nation.
In their words, the fight for justice did not end in 1980 — it simply changed battlegrounds.
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