War vet status 'deceitful'
Swapo supporters from southern Namibia say their sacrifices remain overlooked in favour of comrades from other regions and leaders who lived in luxury hotels while in exile.
Former Swapo activist Lukas Jars has labelled the war veteran status being granted in the country as “deceitful”, saying that process is still shutting out those who remained in the country during the liberation war.
In a letter to the editor, Jars said the government overlooked activists from areas such the Vaalgras settlement in the south of the country who suffered at the hands of the apartheid government because of their staunch support for Swapo.
“I herewith wish to put the following on record. I am really very disappointed with the wrong handling of the whole exercise, especially for some of us who were fighting from inside the country,” Jars said.
“We were here directly in constant contact with the enemy, being the South African Defence Force, Koevoet and the security force and others, whilst some of our comrades, especially the leadership were enjoying a luxury life in hotels elsewhere outside the country. We were being terrorised and beaten up on a daily basis and lived as strangers in our own country.”
According to the Veteran's Act of 2008, a veteran is defined as a person who was “a member of the liberation forces, provided the person was above 18 years of age” at independence.
Other categories include those who engaged politically or diplomatically for Namibia's freedom and those imprisoned for liberation activities.
Others who were captured and detained between 1959 and 21 March 1990 are also included. Those, including freedom fighters impacted just before or after Cassinga, qualify for a “token of appreciation”.
War veterans in Namibia, according to the law, qualify for a N$200 000 lump sum for business ventures, subject to approval and their monthly grant is staggered in relation to the activity and/or persecution a liberation fighter would have suffered.
The bulk of the country's war veterans receive between N$2 000 to N$6 000 monthly. There were roughly 28 000 veterans registered in 2016.
Applications for this status continue to be received, also by relatives of dead freedom fighters and those who were initially denied this status.
In the 2017/18 budget, the Department of Veteran's Affairs received N$921.4 million.
According to Jars many traditional chiefs from the south joined Swapo with the full backing of their communities and eventually strengthened Swapo's support base in southern Namibia.
He said they were also responsible for advancing Swapo's status in the international community as the “sole and authentic representative of the Namibian people”.
“The according of veteran status was started very haphazardly, because there was not enough money at the time. It was granted to every 'Jack and Jill' and now that it has come to the real, legitimate and authentic veterans, there is no money.
“The contemporaries of Vaalgras of that time used to organise 'Swapo braais' and established sections and branches under difficult circumstances during those bitter days. Some were taking that risk to harbour well-known Swapo forerunners and leaders in their houses, but today all that is regarded as nothing,” Jars charged.
To underline his contribution to the liberation struggle Jars cited an incident where he witnessed a political activist being shot dead at the Asab settlement in the south of the country, while they were on their way to Gibeon for a Swapo meeting.
“It's an indisputable fact that the people of Vaalgras have played a tremendous role and made immense contributions; to the extent that many of our sons and daughters died in exile, without any reparations and/or reward for that. I, in person, have applied to be accorded the veteran status, but it was turned down and I have filed appeals two times, without any success. I was even demanding to go and see President Hage Geingob, who doubles as the head of state and as the president of the ruling party, but was told that I will never be afforded that opportunity to meet with him.”
Meanwhile, newly appointed vice-president Nangolo Mbumba, who is also the custodian of veterans' affairs, has urged frustrated freedom fighters to follow “proper procedures” to be registered, instead of raising unnecessary alarm.
JEMIMA BEUKES
In a letter to the editor, Jars said the government overlooked activists from areas such the Vaalgras settlement in the south of the country who suffered at the hands of the apartheid government because of their staunch support for Swapo.
“I herewith wish to put the following on record. I am really very disappointed with the wrong handling of the whole exercise, especially for some of us who were fighting from inside the country,” Jars said.
“We were here directly in constant contact with the enemy, being the South African Defence Force, Koevoet and the security force and others, whilst some of our comrades, especially the leadership were enjoying a luxury life in hotels elsewhere outside the country. We were being terrorised and beaten up on a daily basis and lived as strangers in our own country.”
According to the Veteran's Act of 2008, a veteran is defined as a person who was “a member of the liberation forces, provided the person was above 18 years of age” at independence.
Other categories include those who engaged politically or diplomatically for Namibia's freedom and those imprisoned for liberation activities.
Others who were captured and detained between 1959 and 21 March 1990 are also included. Those, including freedom fighters impacted just before or after Cassinga, qualify for a “token of appreciation”.
War veterans in Namibia, according to the law, qualify for a N$200 000 lump sum for business ventures, subject to approval and their monthly grant is staggered in relation to the activity and/or persecution a liberation fighter would have suffered.
The bulk of the country's war veterans receive between N$2 000 to N$6 000 monthly. There were roughly 28 000 veterans registered in 2016.
Applications for this status continue to be received, also by relatives of dead freedom fighters and those who were initially denied this status.
In the 2017/18 budget, the Department of Veteran's Affairs received N$921.4 million.
According to Jars many traditional chiefs from the south joined Swapo with the full backing of their communities and eventually strengthened Swapo's support base in southern Namibia.
He said they were also responsible for advancing Swapo's status in the international community as the “sole and authentic representative of the Namibian people”.
“The according of veteran status was started very haphazardly, because there was not enough money at the time. It was granted to every 'Jack and Jill' and now that it has come to the real, legitimate and authentic veterans, there is no money.
“The contemporaries of Vaalgras of that time used to organise 'Swapo braais' and established sections and branches under difficult circumstances during those bitter days. Some were taking that risk to harbour well-known Swapo forerunners and leaders in their houses, but today all that is regarded as nothing,” Jars charged.
To underline his contribution to the liberation struggle Jars cited an incident where he witnessed a political activist being shot dead at the Asab settlement in the south of the country, while they were on their way to Gibeon for a Swapo meeting.
“It's an indisputable fact that the people of Vaalgras have played a tremendous role and made immense contributions; to the extent that many of our sons and daughters died in exile, without any reparations and/or reward for that. I, in person, have applied to be accorded the veteran status, but it was turned down and I have filed appeals two times, without any success. I was even demanding to go and see President Hage Geingob, who doubles as the head of state and as the president of the ruling party, but was told that I will never be afforded that opportunity to meet with him.”
Meanwhile, newly appointed vice-president Nangolo Mbumba, who is also the custodian of veterans' affairs, has urged frustrated freedom fighters to follow “proper procedures” to be registered, instead of raising unnecessary alarm.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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