Government has released at least US$6,4 million for the roughly 43 000 beneficiaries of the War Veteran School Fees Fund, fulfilling President Mugabe’s promise early this month that the money would be released in time for the second term.

Schools open on May 3.

Secretary for Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Ex-Political Detainees and Ex-Restrictees Brigadier-General (Retired) Walter Tapfumaneyi told The Sunday Mail last week that Treasury had released the funds. “We have a total of 43 000 (war veterans’) children who benefit from our US$6 million budget per term, of those children about 22 000 forms have so far been submitted and processed.

“We are working flat out together with partners in various departments to make sure children’s fees are paid in time before the second term commences. We have two weeks to complete the process of payment on the pay net system of the Government.

“We are paying fees directly to schools to avoid fraudulent activities that had been happening over the past years,” said Rtd Brig-Gen Tapfumaneyi. “We are at an advanced stage in terms of cross checking, verification processes and all other procedures to make sure that our children go to their various colleges, schools and all learning institutions with their fees.”

War veterans are entitled to pensions, education fees, medical support, funeral cover, loans and subsistence benefits. Rtd Brig-Gen Tapfumaneyi said the historic April meeting between President Mugabe and war veterans had breathed life into economic projects the ministry had embarked on. He said a special purpose vehicle — the People’s Own Wealth Empowerment Right (Power) Zimbabwe Private Limited — had been established to increase war veterans’ financial capacity through multi-million-dollar initiatives. Dzimbahwe Trust superintends the SPV, which will establish stakes in mining, agriculture, media and other businesses.  by Livingstone Marufu. Source: Sunday Mail