Lump sums for some vets

AROUND 500 veterans will soon get a lump sum of N$50 000 each after the National Assembly approved the National Budget on Thursday.

The Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs has set aside N$25 million for the current financial year but the money will only reach about 500 of the estimated more than 40 000 veterans in the country.Minister Ngarikutuke Tjiriange said they have received up to 38 000 applications and the registration is still continuing.’Since roughly 40 000 people were repatriated in 1989, one would obviously expect the figure of the veterans to be higher than 40 000 because not all veterans are necessarily former returnees. Veterans of the struggle for national liberation as we define them comprise those who fought from exile and those who led the struggle from within the country,’ he said.He said they have identified ‘those who are about to leave us’ (meaning too old) as first recipients but there was a likelihood that the budgeted amount could increase ‘to N$50 million or even N$100 million next year’ as Government divides payment into financial years to avoid paying everyone once, as it would not be financially viable.So far 3 506 of the applications have been approved as genuine veterans by the Veterans Board while 108 have been referred back and 8 200 budgeted for the N$2 000 allowances they get.Last year Parliament approved a decision to increase the monthly pension for veterans from N$500 to N$2 000.Tjiriange revealed that there were delays in paying the veterans the increment as they were supposed to start receiving the money from last April.As a result some of the veterans are getting back pay of N$24 000 – that is N$2 000 for 12 months.Tjiriange said they register all freedom fighters irrespective of their political affiliation.Apart from the N$50 000 lump sum and houses for some, Government has acquired a 20-hectare plot in Caprivi Region for crop cultivation by veterans.Tjiriange said they want to create jobs and income for veterans.’This is just the beginning, as similar projects are lined up. We are looking into fishing, fish farming and mining. We will ask the Minister of Lands to allocate some farms to our Ministry to be given to the veterans to farm and even establish co-operatives,’ he said.Tjiriange admitted that some of the veterans where sceptical and preferred cash instead of projects because of their experiences with the likes of the Development Brigade Corporation, which collapsed due to poor management.He said his ministry’s approach was fundamentally different as it takes into account the mistakes of the past, including training the veterans in all aspects of running a business.christof@namibian.com.na