The Reintegration of War Veterans: Challenges and Their Implications for Zimbabwe

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue VIII, August 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

The Reintegration of War Veterans: Challenges and Their Implications for Zimbabwe

Shadreck P.M. Makombe

Zimbabwe Open University, Zimbabwe

Abstract: The research sought to assess the reintegration of war veterans into the society, the challenges and their implications. In trying to find solutions to the research problem, the researcher examined the nature of the relationship between the war veterans and society in Zimbabwe and to determine how war veterans were being reintegrated into the society after returning from the war. The research method used was qualitative approach and the data was generated through the use of face-to-face interviews, focus group discussions and the researcher as a tool with a sample of eight participants which consisted war veterans. The research singled out that reintegration of war veterans had resulted in a complex process which raises many moral, practical, and operational questions. It was ultimately the remaking of relationships on many levels, not only between individuals, communities, and states, but within all of these entities as well. This research shows that participatory approaches in the Zimbabwe Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration DDR programmes fell short in meeting their objectives. Lack of participation had negative consequences for the specific programme objectives, and also for the wider peacebuilding project to which DDR is meant to contribute. The research concluded that reintegration was not properly conducted in Zimbabwe and war veterans would remain isolated from society if no proper measures are taken.

Keywords: Reintegration, Reconciliation, Disarmament, Demobilisation

I. INTRODUCTION

“Son of the soil” during the armed struggle; “squatter” after independence’ (Moto, 1988:71:6). The irony in this statement encapsulates the predicament in which many ex-combatants find themselves in today, thirty-nine years after independence. For most of the now destitute ex-combatants, the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe was ‘a revolution that lost its way’ because of the raw deal they received from the petit bourgeoisie nationalist leadership when they were demobilised. For many ex-combatants, the refrain ‘MUCHANOGUTA kumusha!’ [there will be plenty at home], made by politicians to instil resilience during the struggle, did not materialise. Whilst more than 25 000 war veterans have become progressively destitute in Zimbabwe, the very people they put into power, and those who opportunistically leaped on to the grave train and the bandwagon of the liberation struggle, have become oppressively rich.

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