War vets call off protest

A PLAN by a group of former Swapo war veterans to march to State House yesterday was called off at the last minute.

After a committee representing the group threatened to march “in thousands”, only a small number of former former veterans turned up for the event. About 80 people singing freedom songs gathered outside the Greenwell Matongo Community Hall in Katutura from 08h00 before later dispersing.Despite the low turnout, the demonstrators were ready to march across the city to hand over a petition to Government, but they were stopped in their tracks by their organisers.The spokesperson for the Committee on Welfare of Ex-Combatants, Alex Kamwi, told the group that he had met with the office of the Namibian Police’s Inspector General earlier in the morning, and had been told that State House would be off limits to demonstrators.He was apparently told that the petition would instead be accepted by the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Albert Kawana, at the Katutura Compound.Kamwi then made a second announcement – that he had met with Evangelical Lutheran Church Bishop Zephania Kameeta last week.Kameeta had offered to act as a mediator between the group and Government, and there was thus no need to continue with the demonstration, Kamwi said.The group responded that they would still demonstrate, and that Kameeta could take up their cause afterwards.However, Kamwi and committee leader Ruusa Malulu eventually persuaded the group that their planned demonstration would be a waste of time, and that they were better off waiting for “the church” to intercede on their behalf.”We’ll give God a chance.Not Kameeta, but God,” Kamwi shouted through a loudspeaker.”This, to us, is victory.To Government it’s victory.It’s victory to everyone,” he said to grumbling from his supporters.Kameeta could not be reached to confirm the meeting with Kamwi, as his office indicated that he was in Tanzania.According to Kamwi, the bishop had promised to meet with the committee around September 11, when he would be back in the country.Demonstrators remained outside the community hall until around 10h00, when the march was called off, while committee leaders later handed over their petition to Minister Kawana.In the petition, they express dissatisfaction with the way the Swapo Party and Government had handled their plight.They said they had complied with all Swapo’s and Government’s requests on meetings and written proposals, but Government had not been as forthcoming.The group says it now wants to know on or before September 23 how Government is prepared to compensate “each and every ex-freedom fighter and when”.They also demanded an end to insults and name-calling against their members.”We are people of peace and we request this matter to be handled peacefully and co-operatively as comrades.We open the doors for negotiations on our proposals.Finally, we await for our response on the date herein indicated to avoid camping,” the petition says in conclusion.About 80 people singing freedom songs gathered outside the Greenwell Matongo Community Hall in Katutura from 08h00 before later dispersing.Despite the low turnout, the demonstrators were ready to march across the city to hand over a petition to Government, but they were stopped in their tracks by their organisers.The spokesperson for the Committee on Welfare of Ex-Combatants, Alex Kamwi, told the group that he had met with the office of the Namibian Police’s Inspector General earlier in the morning, and had been told that State House would be off limits to demonstrators.He was apparently told that the petition would instead be accepted by the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Albert Kawana, at the Katutura Compound.Kamwi then made a second announcement – that he had met with Evangelical Lutheran Church Bishop Zephania Kameeta last week.Kameeta had offered to act as a mediator between the group and Government, and there was thus no need to continue with the demonstration, Kamwi said.The group responded that they would still demonstrate, and that Kameeta could take up their cause afterwards.However, Kamwi and committee leader Ruusa Malulu eventually persuaded the group that their planned demonstration would be a waste of time, and that they were better off waiting for “the church” to intercede on their behalf.”We’ll give God a chance.Not Kameeta, but God,” Kamwi shouted through a loudspeaker.”This, to us, is victory.To Government it’s victory.It’s victory to everyone,” he said to grumbling from his supporters.Kameeta could not be reached to confirm the meeting with Kamwi, as his office indicated that he was in Tanzania.According to Kamwi, the bishop had promised to meet with the committee around September 11, when he would be back in the country.Demonstrators remained outside the community hall until around 10h00, when the march was called off, while committee leaders later handed over their petition to Minister Kawana.In the petition, they express dissatisfaction with the way the Swapo Party and Government had handled their plight.They said they had complied with all Swapo’s and Government’s requests on meetings and written proposals, but Government had not been as forthcoming.The group says it now wants to know on or before September 23 how Government is prepared to compensate “each and every ex-freedom fighter and when”.They also demanded an end to insults and name-calling against their members.”We are people of peace and we request this matter to be handled peacefully and co-operatively as comrades.We open the doors for negotiations on our proposals.Finally, we await for our response on the date herein indicated to avoid camping,” the petition says in conclusion.