Registration of war veterans launched

THE registration of war veterans was launched in Windhoek yesterday, but will only start on July 21.

There is still a long wait ahead, as the first grant payouts will only start in the next financial year, which starts in April 2009, Veterans Affairs Minister Ngarikutuke Tjiriange said. “Registration will start on July 21 in all 13 regions, but veterans must please remain calm and patient as we will start a detailed information campaign soon and the 13 regions have been divided into six zones, with Khomas and Omaheke one zone as an example,” Tjiriange said.”The registration process must be completed before the pension payouts begin to those who are found eligible,” he added.The registration process would enable the Ministry to build a national database of veterans.Tjiriange then handed the first war veteran registration cards to former President Sam Nujoma, President Hifikepunye Pohamba, retired Mines and Energy Minister Andimba Toivo ya Toivo and liberation struggle icon Ida Jimmy.”I promise I will not fail you [the war veterans], but I grew up in Swapo and Swapo never fails, so I would be the first one to fail,” Tjiriange said.President Pohamba said the benefits for war veterans would only be “for those who fought for liberation and not against it.”He further pointed out that veterans who now have an income higher than a particular threshold should not count on receiving a benefit from the Ministry.”It is an established practice all over the world that those who fought for the liberation of their country are not left to fend for themselves.The assistance to qualifying former freedom fighters should be seen as an investment in the peace and stability of our country,” Pohamba said.Former President Sam Nujoma said Namibians had a memorable history of heroism to bring freedom to the country.”Thousands of our sons and daughters sacrificed their precious lives, hundreds more suffered imprisonment while others disappeared without trace,” Nujoma said.The Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs was established in October 2006 and President Pohamba signed the Veterans Act in May this year.Regulations for veterans’ eligibility for pensions have been partly drawn up but according to Minister Tjiriange, some more have to be drafted.According to a brochure distributed at the occasion, an advisory board must approve the registration application forms and decide which people will receive monthly benefits, which according to an earlier Cabinet decision will be around N$2 500.Approved applicants will receive a card and can wait for the benefits.Only those who fought on the side of the liberation movements are officially regarded as war veterans.Those who fought on the South African side or were conscripted into the SWA Territory Force are excluded, although they are also war veterans according to international standards.”Registration will start on July 21 in all 13 regions, but veterans must please remain calm and patient as we will start a detailed information campaign soon and the 13 regions have been divided into six zones, with Khomas and Omaheke one zone as an example,” Tjiriange said.”The registration process must be completed before the pension payouts begin to those who are found eligible,” he added.The registration process would enable the Ministry to build a national database of veterans.Tjiriange then handed the first war veteran registration cards to former President Sam Nujoma, President Hifikepunye Pohamba, retired Mines and Energy Minister Andimba Toivo ya Toivo and liberation struggle icon Ida Jimmy.”I promise I will not fail you [the war veterans], but I grew up in Swapo and Swapo never fails, so I would be the first one to fail,” Tjiriange said.President Pohamba said the benefits for war veterans would only be “for those who fought for liberation and not against it.”He further pointed out that veterans who now have an income higher than a particular threshold should not count on receiving a benefit from the Ministry.”It is an established practice all over the world that those who fought for the liberation of their country are not left to fend for themselves.The assistance to qualifying former freedom fighters should be seen as an investment in the peace and stability of our country,” Pohamba said.Former President Sam Nujoma said Namibians had a memorable history of heroism to bring freedom to the country.”Thousands of our sons and daughters sacrificed their precious lives, hundreds more suffered imprisonment while others disappeared without trace,” Nujoma said.The Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs was established in October 2006 and President Pohamba signed the Veterans Act in May this year.Regulations for veterans’ eligibility for pensions have been partly drawn up but according to Minister Tjiriange, some more have to be drafted.According to a brochure distributed at the occasion, an advisory board must approve the registration application forms and decide which people will receive monthly benefits, which according to an earlier Cabinet decision will be around N$2 500.Approved applicants will receive a card and can wait for the benefits.Only those who fought on the side of the liberation movements are officially regarded as war veterans.Those who fought on the South African side or were conscripted into the SWA Territory Force are excluded, although they are also war veterans according to international standards.