HARARE - Former soldiers who served in the Rhodesian Army and the British South African Police are seeking recognition arguing that they also played a role of defending the country’s national assets from the liberation fighters.

“Life has been unbearable ever since the our war victims payments were ceased in 2007. Efforts to establish reasons for the cessations were fruitless, as no office gave us a listening ear. Surprisingly the Zanu (PF) war veterans and some civil servants continue to receive their monthly payments. This is human discrimination by relevant authorities,” said a former Rhodesian Military Police Officer, Fanuel Muhlambo.
Muhlambo whose compensation number was MU000000909, said he deserved compensation as he sustained injuries during course of duty in defence of national assets.  
“If Rhodesian Forces had not defended the country’s infrastructure from freedom fighters, the country would have been reduced to rubbles as former liberation fighters destroyed anything within their reach,” he added.
Muhlambo said him and others sustained various injuries during their tour of duty.
He said he left the Zimbabwe National Army in 1982 after serving as instructor in the integrated army, composed of former freedom fighters and former Rhodesian forces.
Another former Rhodesian Army Soldier, Frank Manyora, also lamented cessation of his compensation without explanation. He joined the Rhodesian Army in 1975 and retired at Independence at a General Army Stand Down of security forces in1980.    
“As former forces we deserve equal respect as freedom fighters. We should benefit from whatever is due to so called war veterans. It takes two to make a war veteran. During the struggle we were also defending national monuments and other assets from external threat. The term war veteran should be substituted with former fighters so that we can all be respected and benefit from previous military activities,” said Manyora.
At constitutional outreach meetings held around Marondera, residents indicated that it must be enshrined in the constitution that, welfare of former Rhodesian Forces must be taken care of by the state.
The disgruntled former armed and police officers said they were set to launch a Former Forces Welfare Fund soon.