Dealing With The Ex-Fighter Dilemma

FROM the revelations this week of the so-called ‘registration’ of several thousand former fighters of the then SWA Territory Force and the ongoing campaign by ex-Plan combatants for money, jobs and recognition, it is clear that Namibia has not yet effectively dealt with the issue of the soldiers from both sides of the conflict and their reintegration into our society.

It is sad to note that although the current ‘registration’ of former fighters on the South African side of the war is in all likelihood a scam, already an estimated 5 000 former soldiers have paid up an amount of N$182 each. This is also clear testimony to the measure of the desperation that many of them feel, even after nearly two decades of independence.And while denials have come thick and fast, also from the South Africans themselves, that no such payout is planned, local police have not yet been able to act in the absence, apparently, of a charge being laid against those who are coordinating the collection, which has already netted nearly N$1 million.In 2005 the PEACE Centre conducted a survey which was called ‘An Investigation Into The Lives of Namibian Ex-Fighters 15 Years After Independence’ by Dr Debbie LeBeau, which makes very interesting and informative reading.Given that there is very little information around facts and figures concerning the former Plan combatants on the one hand, as well as the ex-SWATF fighters, it would be a worthwhile exercise for the Government Ministries and agencies dealing with this dilemma to familiarise themselves with the report if they haven’t done so already. Although the study was done in 2005, we have no reason to believe that conditions and circumstances for the former fighters have changed dramatically in any way since then. And as it is an issue which the country is currently grappling with, it is a helpful study to access for the purposes of the country at least attempting to find solutions to the range of problems surrounding these ex-fighters.Since independence this has been, and remains, a burning issue and while this newspaper has warned against fuelling rapidly growing feelings of entitlement on the part of those who fought in the armed struggle, or who feel neglected as a result of their years in exile, we have nevertheless argued for some form of pension for the soldiers in question.While post independence reconciliation policies were aimed to embrace and treat equally those who engaged in the war on both sides, it is clear that this did not happen, at least to those who were on the South African side. The abovementioned investigation also identifies the fact that ex-fighters of Swapo were more likely than their former SWATF opponents to have received money and/or pensions, employment, training, counselling, personal items and accommodation.We also know that the post-independence Development Brigade Corporation (DBC), although it eventually foundered and collapsed due to mismanagement, took up former Plan, rather than SWATF, fighters. Added to this, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs has been assisting primarily former Swapo combatants, many of whose number (an estimated 7 500) were taken up in the post-independence military and police forces.Former SWATF fighters to a far lesser extent.This adds insult to injury when it comes to the current ‘registration’ campaign, in terms of which these former fighters are being promised huge payouts if they travel to Upington to collect the monies from September 30 to October 7.There is a need for Government to take up this matter and clarify it to the population as a whole, but most particularly the former SWATF fighters, because they cannot claim that this does not concern them. We need to remind ourselves of the policy of reconciliation and as far as the Police inaction is concerned, this is equally unacceptable. They are tasked with crime prevention, and if they are waiting for a charge to be laid before they investigate, it will quite conceivably be too late to prevent others from being sucked in by what appears to be a scam.If the estimated figures of approximately 32 000 former Swapo fighters and 25 000 former SWATF fighters are correct, and given that a fairly high number of Swapo fighters have been employed military and Government generally, and presumably some (although the number will be significantly lower) of SWATF are gainfully employed, then the least this country can do is to be fair to all given the policy of reconciliation and ensure that both sides get the even small measure of assistance that the country can provide these people.We would urge the Government to take up this matter in an even-handed way in the future.