War vets want in on govt spoils
A delegation of pioneer war veterans of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) yesterday told President Hage Geingob that they wanted regional heroes' acres or shrines, fishing quotas and easy access to business opportunities.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the meeting, group spokesperson Elobi Amundaba said many veterans still lived in dire conditions, struggling to access their veterans' pensions.
He said their visit was primarily to remind the government of their existence and that they should be made a priority.
According to him those who worked when they were young now have pension payouts to live on, but the rest struggled with poverty.
“We asked that we should be considered because we are veterans. That is what we came to ask him, specifically fishing quotas, possibly land for the people living in towns,” he said.
According to Amundaba many war veterans are yet to receive the veterans' grant while others are struggling to get their business proposals approved.
“There are some who are living in small houses and some who have houses need their houses renovated,” he said.
The Veterans Act of 2008 came into force on 8 July 2008 to assist the Veterans' Affairs Ministry in designing and implementing appropriate, targeted poverty-reduction programmes for veterans and their dependants.
The Act provides for the state's responsibility to provide financial and other assistance to eligible veterans and dependants of veterans to enable them to be reintegrated in the social and economic mainstream of society.
The Act defines a veteran as a person who was a member of the liberation struggle and who consistently and persistently participated in the political, diplomatic or underground activities in support of the struggle.
Veterans are eligible for a N$2 500 monthly grant and also qualify to receive a lump sum of N$50 000 or N$20 000, depending on the category in which they fall.
Those who went into exile from 1960 to 1987 received a one-off payment of N$50 000, while those who went to exile from 1988 to 1989 are entitled to a one-off payment of N$20 000.
Additional benefits include project funding of N$200 000 to make war veterans self-sustaining, as well as education benefits.
JEMIMA BEUKES
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the meeting, group spokesperson Elobi Amundaba said many veterans still lived in dire conditions, struggling to access their veterans' pensions.
He said their visit was primarily to remind the government of their existence and that they should be made a priority.
According to him those who worked when they were young now have pension payouts to live on, but the rest struggled with poverty.
“We asked that we should be considered because we are veterans. That is what we came to ask him, specifically fishing quotas, possibly land for the people living in towns,” he said.
According to Amundaba many war veterans are yet to receive the veterans' grant while others are struggling to get their business proposals approved.
“There are some who are living in small houses and some who have houses need their houses renovated,” he said.
The Veterans Act of 2008 came into force on 8 July 2008 to assist the Veterans' Affairs Ministry in designing and implementing appropriate, targeted poverty-reduction programmes for veterans and their dependants.
The Act provides for the state's responsibility to provide financial and other assistance to eligible veterans and dependants of veterans to enable them to be reintegrated in the social and economic mainstream of society.
The Act defines a veteran as a person who was a member of the liberation struggle and who consistently and persistently participated in the political, diplomatic or underground activities in support of the struggle.
Veterans are eligible for a N$2 500 monthly grant and also qualify to receive a lump sum of N$50 000 or N$20 000, depending on the category in which they fall.
Those who went into exile from 1960 to 1987 received a one-off payment of N$50 000, while those who went to exile from 1988 to 1989 are entitled to a one-off payment of N$20 000.
Additional benefits include project funding of N$200 000 to make war veterans self-sustaining, as well as education benefits.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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