Pay-out for freedom fighters
2004-09-29 21:19
Special Report
The health of Zimbabwe's children and women has worsened sharply, with 100 children under five dying of mostly preventable diseases each day, according to the UN.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe says he doesn't expect the US sanctions on his country to be lifted soon.
Harare - Zimbabwe's government is planning to pay hefty rewards to about 5 000 former political prisoners and detainees of the country's independence struggle, state radio reported on Wednesday.
Social welfare minister Paul Mangwana told the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) that the government had published a bill which, if passed by parliament, would allow it to pay the ex-prisoners gratuities and pensions.
"Vetting of beneficiaries has been completed and about 5 000 ex-political prisoners, detainees and restrictees qualified to receive the gratuities," the report said.
Former political prisoners - who were imprisoned, detained or had their movements restricted by the white minority government between 1959 and independence in 1980 - have been lobbying for the payments for several years.
The radio report did not indicate the amount each beneficiary would receive, but private media have estimated that each person could get a one-off payment of up to ZIM$10m (US$1 785).
The bill was due to be debated in parliament next month, the ZBC said.
In 1997 the government paid out hefty sums to war veterans, a move that was blamed for putting a strain on the country's economy.
Economists have warned that unbudgeted payments now could put a similar strain on the economy.
Zimbabwe's economy has been on the decline for the past five years, and the country has been battling with high annual inflation rates, currently more than 300%, as well as increasing poverty and unemployment.
- AFP