We just wanna talk, veterans tell Geingob
29 July 2021 | Local News
OGONE TLHAGE
WINDHOEK
In a recent petition to President Hage Geingob, the Peter Nanyemba Former Combatant Veterans Trust says government should come to the party and honour a Cabinet resolution to pay out veterans.
The veterans are demanding government pay out a pension of N$400 000, while the trust is demanding answers by 27 August, saying it wanted to have a conversation with Geingob and asked whether the resolution had ever been brought to his attention.
Its chairperson Nkrumah Mushelenga said veterans are not treated equally, despite the sacrifices they had made.
“We shed our blood, tears and sweat; we should we be getting different. Some of us were doing harsh work; some of us are living with bruises and foreign objects in our bodies, it is very painful,” he said.
“Some veterans are getting more than others. If we did the same work, why?” he further questioned.
Not benefitting
According to Mushelenga, money had been budgeted for veterans, but they were not benefitting from the projects.
“We should have a say how funds should be disbursed to the veterans. We are not quarrelling with our Swapo party or our government,” Mushelenga said.
In the petition to Geingob, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa, Mushelenga said government’s silence on the matter was a tragedy towards the veterans.
“We see your silence as a display of non-recognition and non-appreciation of those whose blood, tears and sweat waters our freedom. Your quietness remains a national, political and socio-economic tragedy for the veterans of the liberation struggle and their dependents in the post-colonial Namibia. It has diluted the national egotism phrase ‘Namibia land of the brave’,” the petition read.
WINDHOEK
In a recent petition to President Hage Geingob, the Peter Nanyemba Former Combatant Veterans Trust says government should come to the party and honour a Cabinet resolution to pay out veterans.
The veterans are demanding government pay out a pension of N$400 000, while the trust is demanding answers by 27 August, saying it wanted to have a conversation with Geingob and asked whether the resolution had ever been brought to his attention.
Its chairperson Nkrumah Mushelenga said veterans are not treated equally, despite the sacrifices they had made.
“We shed our blood, tears and sweat; we should we be getting different. Some of us were doing harsh work; some of us are living with bruises and foreign objects in our bodies, it is very painful,” he said.
“Some veterans are getting more than others. If we did the same work, why?” he further questioned.
Not benefitting
According to Mushelenga, money had been budgeted for veterans, but they were not benefitting from the projects.
“We should have a say how funds should be disbursed to the veterans. We are not quarrelling with our Swapo party or our government,” Mushelenga said.
In the petition to Geingob, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa, Mushelenga said government’s silence on the matter was a tragedy towards the veterans.
“We see your silence as a display of non-recognition and non-appreciation of those whose blood, tears and sweat waters our freedom. Your quietness remains a national, political and socio-economic tragedy for the veterans of the liberation struggle and their dependents in the post-colonial Namibia. It has diluted the national egotism phrase ‘Namibia land of the brave’,” the petition read.
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