By Lorraine Gugulethu Ndebele
The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) have complained over nonpayment of fees payment for their children enrolled at tertiary institutions saying the prevailing situation constitutes failure by government to fulfill its obligations.
In a statement, ZNLWVA Secretary General Edward Dube said their children’s fees have remained unpaid for the past two semesters or three terms since last year, 2023.
“The current scenario is untenable, as university learners are being denied accesstoessentialservices such as registration and accommodation,” said Dube.
According to the statutory provisions of the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Act (Chapter 17:12) of 2020, government has an obligation to pay school fees for children of former freedom fighters.
Dube said the ZNLWVA has made both formal and informal appeals to government to address this matter without success.
“Consequently, students find themselves in a state of dilemma and uncertainty, especially since some universities are scheduled to commence classes this week,” added Dube.
ZNLWVA has also appealed to the relevant authorities to take swift action to ensure that their children who have been sleeping in the open are not affected by the delays in paying their school fees.
“The association urgently appeals to the relevant authorities to prioritize this issue and take swift action to ensure that learners are not subjected to unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, ultimately impeding their educational progress,” said Dube.
In an interview with the Zimbabwe Sentinel, ZNLWVA Chairperson Ethan Matibela said their spent three days in the open because they were refused entry by authorities at the University of Zimbabwe because the government had not paid their school fees.
“As we speak, these formal institution like the University of Zimbabwe which are meant to belong to the government have just drawn a line and said they are not accepting war veterans’ children or whose child have not paid school fees”, said Matibela.
“Is this a good gesture or a good pay back to the former liberation veterans,” added Matibela.
