Ex-combatants’ body makes fresh demands

A RECENTLY established committee of war veterans is pushing for remuneration of N$8 000 a month – including for those already employed, free education and medical services, fishing quotas or mining concessions and decent burials.

These are among 13 proposals submitted to President Hifikepunye Pohamba by the Committee on Welfare of Ex-Combatants on Friday. They say they don’t plan to resort to anarchy, but rather hope that diplomacy will achieve their demands.They expect results within the next two weeks.The committee says that after 16 years of Independence, the time has come for Namibia to recognise the sacrifices they made in order for the country to be what it is today.”We are not being recognised,” group spokesperson Alex Kamwi told The Namibian yesterday.”Our value doesn’t carry weight.People question the credibility of us combatants, but did they ever question this when we were fighting for this country?” On Friday, the committee asked the President to consider allowing war veterans to work up to the age of 70 years, depending on their fitness levels.They argue that this would allow them to accumulate a better sum of money than if they’re forced to retire at the age of 60.They’ve also asked for a monthly remuneration of N$8 000 for all ex-combatants, public servants included, says Kamwi.Other proposals made to the President include free education and medical services for their families, or fishing quotas and mining concessions, as well as decent burials “irrespective of whether he (or) she is a Minister or not”.Kamwi says their demands are perfectly proper, and there was no need for them to resort to demonstrations.”We feel there is no need to demonstrate.The Swapo Government is ours, they were also freedom fighters.Even though it took 16 years, I’m sure they will listen to us.”He says this doesn’t mean they will resort to anarchy if their demands are not met.”Perhaps not all our resolutions will be met, but this will only mean we go into the second stage of negotiations.When people think Plan fighters, they automatically think demonstrations.But we’re matured.We can work things out diplomatically,” he says.Commenting on those who say former combatants have been compensated enough down the years, he says: “Not everyone was accommodated, and even those who were got very little.”Helao Shityuwete agrees.He says that after Independence, the South African government of the day provided a certain amount of money to Namibian SWATF soldiers, which was then divided into smaller portions to allow Plan soldiers to also receive an amount from this.However, only a fraction of soldiers from either side received anything from this, both men claim.Kamwi says that some time after this, a number of cattle captured in war zones were given to some Plan fighters.This was the extent of the remuneration for many soldiers, Kamwi says, except for those who were incorporated into the Namibian Defence Force (NDF).”And if you go to any cash loan you’ll see that the majority of customers there are the ordinary constables,” he says.Shityuwete last year took part in a study on the lives of Namibian ex-fighters for the People’s Education, Assistance and Counselling for Empowerment (Peace) organisation.The study, released in September, found that for both SWATF and Plan, “just over 14 per cent of ex-fighters currently receive money or pensions from any source,” and that only 31 per cent have been provided with employment.Shityuwete says that when he revisited the regions where the study had been conducted earlier this year, many of the participants were not interested in Peace’s findings with regard to their psycho-social conditions.They were more interested in receiving some sort of monetary compensation, he says.Pohamba has promised to discuss the committee’s proposals with Swapo leadership before giving his reply.”These are just proposals,” Shityuwete says.”Government can come up with its own as well.”They say they don’t plan to resort to anarchy, but rather hope that diplomacy will achieve their demands.They expect results within the next two weeks.The committee says that after 16 years of Independence, the time has come for Namibia to recognise the sacrifices they made in order for the country to be what it is today.”We are not being recognised,” group spokesperson Alex Kamwi told The Namibian yesterday.”Our value doesn’t carry weight.People question the credibility of us combatants, but did they ever question this when we were fighting for this country?” On Friday, the committee asked the President to consider allowing war veterans to work up to the age of 70 years, depending on their fitness levels.They argue that this would allow them to accumulate a better sum of money than if they’re forced to retire at the age of 60.They’ve also asked for a monthly remuneration of N$8 000 for all ex-combatants, public servants included, says Kamwi.Other proposals made to the President include free education and medical services for their families, or fishing quotas and mining concessions, as well as decent burials “irrespective of whether he (or) she is a Minister or not”.Kamwi says their demands are perfectly proper, and there was no need for them to resort to demonstrations.”We feel there is no need to demonstrate.The Swapo Government is ours, they were also freedom fighters.Even though it took 16 years, I’m sure they will listen to us.”He says this doesn’t mean they will resort to anarchy if their demands are not met.”Perhaps not all our resolutions will be met, but this will only mean we go into the second stage of negotiations.When people think Plan fighters, they automatically think demonstrations.But we’re matured.We can work things out diplomatically,” he says.Commenting on those who say former combatants have been compensated enough down the years, he says: “Not everyone was accommodated, and even those who were got very little.”Helao Shityuwete agrees.He says that after Independence, the South African government of the day provided a certain amount of money to Namibian SWATF soldiers, which was then divided into smaller portions to allow Plan soldiers to also receive an amount from this.However, only a fraction of soldiers from either side received anything from this, both men claim.Kamwi says that some time after this, a number of cattle captured in war zones were given to some Plan fighters.This was the extent of the remuneration for many soldiers, Kamwi says, except for those who were incorporated into the Namibian Defence Force (NDF).”And if you go to any cash loan you’ll see that the majority of customers there are the ordinary constables,” he says.Shityuwete last year took part in a study on the lives of Namibian ex-fighters for the People’s Education, Assistance and Counselling for Empowerment (Peace) organisation.The study, released in September, found that for both SWATF and Plan, “just over 14 per cent of ex-fighters currently receive money or pensions from any source,” and that only 31 per cent have been provided with employment.Shityuwete says that when he revisited the regions where the study had been conducted earlier this year, many of the participants were not interested in Peace’s findings with regard to their psycho-social conditions.They were more interested in receiving some sort of monetary compensation, he says.Pohamba has promised to discuss the committee’s proposals with Swapo leadership before giving his reply.”These are just proposals,” Shityuwete says.”Government can come up with its own as well.”