Govt programmes for war vets not ‘wholly successful’

GOVERNMENT programmes for war veterans that have been implemented since Independence have not been entirely successful, but the veterans are partly to blame, Prime Minister Nahas Angula said yesterday.

“Due to a variety of needs and expectations of ex-combatants, some programmes have not been wholly successful,” he admitted in the National Assembly. Angula was responding to questions from Ben Ulenga, president of the main opposition party Congress of Democrats, before the tea break, which again exceeded the official time of 20 minutes by 17 minutes.”Since Independence Government developed a range of programmes to integrate the ex-combatants into the social and economic life of the country to address their evolving needs and those of war orphans.”Despite the determined efforts, some still remain uncatered for.This state of affairs cannot solely be blamed on Government – ex-combatants themselves may also carry the blame,” Angula stated, without giving an explanation.He recalled that Government registered ex-combatants in 1995, 1998,1999 and 2000.By 2000, a total of 20 825 ex-combatants and 1 165 war orphans were registered.Of that number, 17 395 ex-combatants were employed, 2 325 were put on the War Veterans Subvention Fund and 1 105 were unemployed, according to the Prime Minister.Ulenga then asked him why the issue of the war veterans had not yet been solved 17 years after Independence.”Go there (where they demonstrate at the Justice Ministry) and ask them, some are employed,” Angula responded.”Are you implying they (with jobs) are dishonest when they demonstrate?” Ulenga wanted to know.The issue of the war veterans was complicated, Angula said.”Some of them had jobs, lost them and became destitute, others are unqualified.”He then told Ulenga not to “make cheap politics” out of the issue.”Why did you beat them?” Ulenga asked.”Government, through the Constitution, protects peaceful demonstrations,” Angula gave as response.Angula was responding to questions from Ben Ulenga, president of the main opposition party Congress of Democrats, before the tea break, which again exceeded the official time of 20 minutes by 17 minutes.”Since Independence Government developed a range of programmes to integrate the ex-combatants into the social and economic life of the country to address their evolving needs and those of war orphans.”Despite the determined efforts, some still remain uncatered for.This state of affairs cannot solely be blamed on Government – ex-combatants themselves may also carry the blame,” Angula stated, without giving an explanation.He recalled that Government registered ex-combatants in 1995, 1998,1999 and 2000.By 2000, a total of 20 825 ex-combatants and 1 165 war orphans were registered.Of that number, 17 395 ex-combatants were employed, 2 325 were put on the War Veterans Subvention Fund and 1 105 were unemployed, according to the Prime Minister.Ulenga then asked him why the issue of the war veterans had not yet been solved 17 years after Independence.”Go there (where they demonstrate at the Justice Ministry) and ask them, some are employed,” Angula responded.”Are you implying they (with jobs) are dishonest when they demonstrate?” Ulenga wanted to know.The issue of the war veterans was complicated, Angula said.”Some of them had jobs, lost them and became destitute, others are unqualified.”He then told Ulenga not to “make cheap politics” out of the issue.”Why did you beat them?” Ulenga asked.”Government, through the Constitution, protects peaceful demonstrations,” Angula gave as response.