By A Correspondent- Former War Veterans minister Tshinga Dube has blasted President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his two deputies Kembo Mohadi and Contanstino Chiwenga for allegedly dumping fellow freedom fighters soon after landing the presidency.

Dube said war veterans were now feeling let down after they put their lives on the block to push for the late former President Robert Mugabe’s ouster in a November 2017 coup.

“War veterans are living very difficult lives. We did not expect that because the President is a war veteran, the Minister of Defence and War Veterans (Oppah Muchinguri) is a war veteran, even the Vice-Presidents are war veterans,” Dube said at the weekend.

“It is just that when people get to higher offices, they tend to forget others and close the door. When we tell people that war veterans are starving, they don’t understand because their plate is full.

“I don’t see why war veterans should be living such difficult lives. Sometimes we should not forget where we came from because when our leaders came to power, the war veterans were happy and said at last, we will live well.”

The straight-talking Dube, who served as War Veterans minister in 2016 following the expulsion of Chris Mutsvangwa, dismissed the monthly pension payouts they receive from government as a pittance.

On several occasions, the government has announced plans to improve the welfare of ex-combatants, but failed to honour its pledge.

“We should not take pride at coming to funerals and fire gun salutes for war veterans when they die when we ignore their plight when they are still living,” Dube said.

The former Makokoba legislator also recently tongue-lashed presidential spokesperson George Charamba, accusing him of “living in the past” and exhibiting a condescending attitude after the former shot down his suggestion for a government of national unity to resolve the country’s multi-faceted crises.

-Newsday