In a statement issued this week, Swapo once again called on all citizens to distance themselves from the committee led by war veteran Ruusa Malulu.

The committee enjoys no support from either the Swapo Party or Government, the statement said.

"The Swapo Party Government is cognisant of the fact that the many projects and mechanisms put in place over the years to address the plight of ex-combatants ...

may not have been sufficient due to lack of resources.

We realise much still needs to be done.

That is why both the Swapo Party and Government have stepped up the ongoing efforts aimed at continuously addressing this very important issue," the party said.

Yesterday, Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced a number of Cabinet resolutions aimed at addressing the plight of war veterans and other people who suffered for the sake of liberation.

Commenting on the ruling party's judgement of the Committee on the Welfare of Ex-Combatants, its spokesperson Alex Kamwi said yesterday that Government's new resolutions were a sign that the committee was pressing the right buttons.

"Despite their (Government and Swapo) saying that they don't recognise us, one can see through their actions that we are being recognised.

It's because of our lobbying that they've started to act," Kamwi claimed.

The committee are all still Swapo members he added, and will definitely be present during tomorrow's official commemoration of Heroes' Day in the Caprivi Region.

In its statement, Swapo also rejected claims that it had ever entered into an agreement with the United Nations (UN) to compensate ex-Plan fighters.

"The People's Liberation Army of Namibia was never an army funded by the United Nations.

The Swapo Party leadership, and indeed Plan commanders and genuine Plan combatants, are not aware of any agreement reached with the UN on compensation," Swapo said yesterday.

Kamwi said although a formal agreement was not reached, a number of committee members had noted down a promise of US$80 000 per combatant made on July 6 1988 by a UN representative to fighters in the presence of Swapo leaders.

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