War vets threaten new demo

DISGRUNTLED war veterans, who have been demanding huge pension payouts for the time they fought in the liberation struggle, have set a deadline of November 20 for payments, otherwise they will call a demonstration six days later.

The date set for the mass protest, November 26, is one day before the start of the Swapo congress. “We had a meeting with the Ministry of War Veterans on July 10, but we were not told the truth, as we learnt afterwards,” Ruusa Malulu, Chairperson of the Namibia Ex-Freedom Fighters/War Veterans Association, as it is now called, said yesterday.”Veterans’ Affairs Minister Dr Ngarikutuke Tjiriange told us in July that his Ministry was still busy recruiting staff members and that the Bill to define a veteran was not yet completed and as a result, there was no budget (yet) to pay ex-freedom fighters,” Malulu said in a statement.”We were also told that the Ministry would hold a conference for all stakeholders during which they would draw up a strategic action plan, but this has not yet happened.”After the meeting we learned that the Ministry was touring several regions to inform war veterans that they have divided us into three age categories – 55 years and above, 54 years and below and the third category of 30 years and younger,” Malulu said.The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, William Amagulu, denied the allegations.”We cannot hold meetings in all 13 regions simultaneously, we went to some northern regions and to Erongo and two weeks ago to Kavango.Otjozondjupa and Omaheke will be next,” he told The Namibian.”We do not exclude anybody from these meetings, any ex-combatant can attend,” he maintained.Asked how notice was given of these meetings, he said this was done via radio broadcasts in the relevant regions.”We also notify the office of the Governors so that they can also announce the meetings.We do not distinguish between the association of Ms Malulu or any individual war veterans,” Amagulu added.”The next step we are thinking about is to either hold a meeting in Khomas and afterwards in Karas and Hardap, or to visit the two southern regions first and then do Khomas.”The Permanent Secretary also confirmed that a national stakeholders’ meeting to map out a strategic action plan was on the cards.”The Office of the Prime Minister will organise it.We also informed the war veterans group of Ms Malulu about this in July,” according to him.That conference was planned for either October or early November, he added.All matters will be discussed then, including the different age categories.Amagulu would not elaborate on the categories or proposed benefits yesterday.The Veterans Bill will only be drafted after the stakeholders’ conference.Malulu demanded that her group should get a chance to make input into the Bill.The Namibia Ex-Freedom Fighters/War Veterans Association also said yesterday that it was not in favour of the age categories that the Ministry has supposedly discussed at some regional meetings so far.”To those 55 years old and above, they (are to) qualify for social welfare and pension payouts dating back to colonial times, but we want to know how far back,” Malulu said.She alleged that war veterans serving in the Namibia Defence Force would be given ranks from captain up to major.Those aged 31 to 54 were supposed to be given “jobs, farms or fishing quotas.”Malulu and Alex Kamwi led hundreds of ex-fighters last year, demanding thousands of dollars from Government as compensation for having fought in the liberation war.They also wanted shares in State-owned enterprises and for veterans who are already employed by Government to continue working until they are 70 years old.They camped for several days outside the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs in July until granted a meeting with Minister Tjiriange.”We had a meeting with the Ministry of War Veterans on July 10, but we were not told the truth, as we learnt afterwards,” Ruusa Malulu, Chairperson of the Namibia Ex-Freedom Fighters/War Veterans Association, as it is now called, said yesterday.”Veterans’ Affairs Minister Dr Ngarikutuke Tjiriange told us in July that his Ministry was still busy recruiting staff members and that the Bill to define a veteran was not yet completed and as a result, there was no budget (yet) to pay ex-freedom fighters,” Malulu said in a statement.”We were also told that the Ministry would hold a conference for all stakeholders during which they would draw up a strategic action plan, but this has not yet happened.”After the meeting we learned that the Ministry was touring several regions to inform war veterans that they have divided us into three age categories – 55 years and above, 54 years and below and the third category of 30 years and younger,” Malulu said. The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, William Amagulu, denied the allegations.”We cannot hold meetings in all 13 regions simultaneously, we went to some northern regions and to Erongo and two weeks ago to Kavango.Otjozondjupa and Omaheke will be next,” he told The Namibian.”We do not exclude anybody from these meetings, any ex-combatant can attend,” he maintained.Asked how notice was given of these meetings, he said this was done via radio broadcasts in the relevant regions.”We also notify the office of the Governors so that they can also announce the meetings.We do not distinguish between the association of Ms Malulu or any individual war veterans,” Amagulu added.”The next step we are thinking about is to either hold a meeting in Khomas and afterwards in Karas and Hardap, or to visit the two southern regions first and then do Khomas.”The Permanent Secretary also confirmed that a national stakeholders’ meeting to map out a strategic action plan was on the cards.”The Office of the Prime Minister will organise it.We also informed the war veterans group of Ms Malulu about this in July,” according to him.That conference was planned for either October or early November, he added.All matters will be discussed then, including the different age categories.Amagulu would not elaborate on the categories or proposed benefits yesterday.The Veterans Bill will only be drafted after the stakeholders’ conference.Malulu demanded that her group should get a chance to make input into the Bill.The Namibia Ex-Freedom Fighters/War Veterans Association also said yesterday that it was not in favour of the age categories that the Ministry has supposedly discussed at some regional meetings so far.”To those 55 years old and above, they (are to) qualify for social welfare and pension payouts dating back to colonial times, but we want to know how far back,” Malulu said.She alleged that war veterans serving in the Namibia Defence Force would be given ranks from captain up to major.Those aged 31 to 54 were supposed to be given “jobs, farms or fishing quotas.”Malulu and Alex Kamwi led hundreds of ex-fighters last year, demanding thousands of dollars from Government as compensation for having fought in the liberation war.They also wanted shares in State-owned enterprises and for veterans who are already employed by Government to continue working until they are 70 years old.They camped for several days outside the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs in July until granted a meeting with Minister Tjiriange.

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