Appendix: The ruling party's attempts to withdraw ex-combatants' special status and ex-combatants' responses, 1988–1997

Summary

When the government disbanded the Demobilisation Directorate in 1986/7, in the words of one of its officials, it wanted “ex-combatants to feel part of society, not to feel better served than any other citizen.” Shortly after the party unity agreement in 1987, the official press struck a new tone. “Eight years ago, Zimbabwe's mighty young freedom fighters brought down the fall of the colonial regime. But today some of them are still basking in that glory and refusing to come to terms with the present realities of Zimbabwe.” In March 1988 several government/party leaders sought unsuccessfully to stifle efforts in parliament to seek special treatment for ex-combatants. At the time of the parliamentary debate, newly appointed Minister of Labour, Manpower Planning and Social Welfare, John Nkomo bluntly told the press that ex-combatants' problems were no longer special.

One does not have to single out a particular group for preferential treatment eight years after independence. I think in the eight years we have gone through too many things have been evened out between the ex-combatant and the non ex-combatant. We should now be addressing unemployment as a national problem that faces both the veterans of the war and those who were young during the war, but who have now attained the age of majority.

“[P]eople must not be too selective about jobs they are called upon to perform,” he said.