Veteran Politician and Freedom Fighter, Vernon Mwaanga has called on the government to urgently enact a Veteran Act that will grant official recognition, respect and benefits to Zambia’s surviving freedom fighters.
Dr Mwaanga said Zambia’s independence was won at a great cost, stating that those who sacrificed their lives, careers and families must be honoured before they pass on.
Dr Mwaanga made these remarks in a speech delivered for him by Order of the Eagle of Zambia, Interim Chairman Chisanga Jestus during the luncheon hosted by Tutandale Zambia in honour of Dr Mwaanga and freedom fighters in Lusaka.
The Veteran Politician emphasised that the stories and legacies of the country’s liberation heroes must be recorded, preserved and published to safeguard Zambia’s historical identity.
He stated that freedom fighters are demanding three major areas of recognition, formal acknowledgment, respect and monetary reward.
Mwaanga said the government should enact policies that formally recognise all genuine freedom fighters, establish a national museum dedicated to the liberation struggle, and name streets, schools, and institutions after the men and women who fought for Zambia’s freedom.
He noted that Cabinet Office remembrance activities could also help honour both the living and the deceased.
D Mwaanga also urged the government to consider a monetary honorarium for surviving freedom fighters, calculated based on the number of years since independence.
He added that a new and accurate register is needed to ensure genuine heroes are acknowledged, reminding the nation that independence came at a premium where lives were lost, families were separated, and many fighters were injured or had their education and careers cut short while fighting colonial oppression.
In his tribute message to Dr Mwaanga and freedom fighters, United National Independence Party (UNIP) president,Trevor Mwamba called for a national return to unity, moral values and ethical leadership.
Bishop Mwamba also reflected on the values that shaped the independence struggle, including faith in God, hard work and ethical leadership.
He reminded the nation that Zambia once had thriving industries built under disciplined leadership, urging the youth to learn from that legacy.
