War veterans snubbed

SWAPO has rejected a plea by a committee of war veterans who are demanding a pay of N$8 000 a month, free education and medical services, fishing quotas or mining concessions and decent burials.

Swapo President Sam Nujoma on Friday told the media that the group were not Swapo members and did not represent the party’s former People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (Plan). “I don’t know whether they are Swapo members.If they are, they will be dealt with in accordance with the Swapo party constitution,” Nujoma said.The group, calling itself the Committee on Welfare of Ex-Combatants, gave President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Swapo two weeks at the end of June to recognise the sacrifices they had made in order for the country to be what it is today.They submitted 13 proposals to Pohamba and said they did not plan to resort to anarchy, but rather hoped that diplomacy would achieve their demands.”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?” group spokesperson Alex Kamwi told The Namibian recently.The committee asked Pohamba 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 better pensions than if they were forced to retire at the age of 60.They have also asked for a monthly pay of N$8 000 for all ex-combatants, public servants included.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 said their demands were 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.”Nujoma rejected the group and threatened to deal with them at party level if they were members of Swapo.He argued that the party had structures and procedures that its members were supposed to follow and the group had failed to do so.When he received the proposals, Pohamba had promised to discuss the committee’s ideas with the Swapo leadership before giving his reply.Kamwi said they did not intend to resort to anarchy if their demands were 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 mature.We can work things out diplomatically,” he says.The committee rejected claims that former Plan fighters had received compensation after Independence.”Not everyone was accommodated, and even those who were, got very little,” Kamwi said.Another war veteran, Helao Shityuwete, said the South African government of the day provided a certain amount of money to Namibian SWATF soldiers after Independence, which was then divided into smaller portions to allow Plan soldiers to benefit too.However, only a small number of soldiers from either side received anything from this, both men claimed.Kamwi said that some time after this, a number of cattle captured in war zones were given to some Plan fighters.That was the extent of the remuneration for many soldiers, Kamwi said, except for those who were incorporated into the Namibian Defence Force (NDF).”I don’t know whether they are Swapo members.If they are, they will be dealt with in accordance with the Swapo party constitution,” Nujoma said.The group, calling itself the Committee on Welfare of Ex-Combatants, gave President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Swapo two weeks at the end of June to recognise the sacrifices they had made in order for the country to be what it is today.They submitted 13 proposals to Pohamba and said they did not plan to resort to anarchy, but rather hoped that diplomacy would achieve their demands.”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?” group spokesperson Alex Kamwi told The Namibian recently.The committee asked Pohamba 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 better pensions than if they were forced to retire at the age of 60.They have also asked for a monthly pay of N$8 000 for all ex-combatants, public servants included.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 said their demands were 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.”Nujoma rejected the group and threatened to deal with them at party level if they were members of Swapo.He argued that the party had structures and procedures that its members were supposed to follow and the group had failed to do so.When he received the proposals, Pohamba had promised to discuss the committee’s ideas with the Swapo leadership before giving his reply.Kamwi said they did not intend to resort to anarchy if their demands were 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 mature.We can work things out diplomatically,” he says.The committee rejected claims that former Plan fighters had received compensation after Independence.”Not everyone was accommodated, and even those who were, got very little,” Kamwi said.Another war veteran, Helao Shityuwete, said the South African government of the day provided a certain amount of money to Namibian SWATF soldiers after Independence, which was then divided into smaller portions to allow Plan soldiers to benefit too.However, only a small number of soldiers from either side received anything from this, both men claimed.Kamwi said that some time after this, a number of cattle captured in war zones were given to some Plan fighters.That was the extent of the remuneration for many soldiers, Kamwi said, except for those who were incorporated into the Namibian Defence Force (NDF).