Amend Veterans Act to benefit struggle kids – Namandje

Swapo politburo member Sisa Namandje says government should have put a provision into the Veterans Act that entry-level jobs be reserved for children of the liberation struggle.This, he said, would have avoided a Cabinet decision in favour of the welfare of ‘struggle kids’ being challenged legally. Namandje made the remarks at a Namibian Exile Kids Association (Neka) meeting held last weekend by its Khomas branch. Cabinet in 2021 took a decision to reserve certain jobs for children of the liberation struggle. This decision was, however, challenged by then ombudsman, Advocate John Walters, who argued that it did not fit the criteria of affirmative action which may be applied to racially disadvantaged persons, women and persons with disabilities, nor does it meet the conditions set out within the Veterans Act.“There is nothing wrong with that court order, because the issue was not properly addressed. It was a Cabinet decision; not a piece of legislation. It would have been easier to put those provisions in the Veterans Act, then it becomes law,” Namandje said. He argued that it would have been easier to amend the Public Service Act. “The High Court can never be blamed. Those who drafted [it] could have made it easier [by] putting in a special provision to amend the Public Service Act. You do not do it with a Cabinet decision. With the greatest respect, it’s not law,” he said. Special context“Now and then, our government does listen. A lot has been done, we are just highlighting, and there is a particular section of this society that does not understand the kids of the liberation struggle. They are not kids, but the words used, the terms used, have special context,” Namandje said. “There are those kids [who], because of circumstances, attained a better life somehow, [but] they remain part of these kids. They were part of it,” he added. Namandje appealed to Neka members who do not benefit from the Veterans Act to be patient. “It may be late for you guys, because you are past 18 and so forth, but we plead for some sensitivity; we plead for some awareness.”On 18 March 2021, Judge Thomas Masuku interdicted the Public Service Commission, the prime minister and secretary to cabinet from continuing to implement a Cabinet decision authorising the appointment of children of the liberation struggle as part of the public service without going through an interview process.The Ombudsman and the Khorixas Constituency Youth Forum had dragged Cabinet to court after it received numerous complaints from previously disadvantaged Namibian citizens in relation to jobs reserved for struggle kids.The Office of the Ombudsman investigated the matter and found that there was a separate recruitment and appointment process for struggle kids.

Amend Veterans Act to benefit struggle kids – Namandje

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-02

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Amend Veterans Act to benefit struggle kids – Namandje

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-02

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