Govt needs N$2bn to settle war vets payments
Swapo wants funds paid before 2024
Already pressed for funds, there is mounting pressure on government to source funds to settle the financial demands of war veterans.
Government will have to fork out an extra N$1.89 billion in project funding - in addition to the N$1.87 billion it has already paid out to veterans of the liberation struggle.
Defence minister Frans Kapofi, who was speaking during a budget motivation tabled in the National Assembly, said his ministry is saddled with a huge backlog, amid expectations that more veterans will apply to receive funding of N$170 000 each.
“Although the ministry has thus far paid out 11 035 individual veteran projects (IVPs), there is still a huge backlog of 11 125 unfunded IVPs. [This] number is likely to increase due to the fact that veterans who did not apply are starting to apply for IVPs,” he said.
Kapofi added that 93% of the total budget was utilised on activities mainly aimed at veterans’ welfare programmes and keeping the history of the liberation struggle alive.
Shrine completed
Meanwhile, he announced that construction activities for the Cassinga Shrine had been completed.
“It will be inaugurated this year and you will be invited to the inauguration in due course,” Kapofi said.
Activities will also be put in motion to exhume veterans of the liberation struggle to designated national shrines and burial sites, he said.
“An exhumation committee has been established to oversee the exhumation and re-interment of the remains of the martyrs of the liberation struggle at designated national shrines or burial sites,” he said.
The recent Swapo congress adopted a resolution ordering government to ensure veterans of the liberation struggle are paid all their outstanding monies before 2024.
The directive is seen to be aimed at appeasing veterans, who are at loggerheads with government over unpaid project monies, ahead of the crunch 2024 general election.
“The party directs government to fully realise the cash payout of veterans of the liberation struggle before 2024, and to accelerate and finalise the application by the veterans’ association for affiliation membership,” the draft resolution read.
Defence minister Frans Kapofi, who was speaking during a budget motivation tabled in the National Assembly, said his ministry is saddled with a huge backlog, amid expectations that more veterans will apply to receive funding of N$170 000 each.
“Although the ministry has thus far paid out 11 035 individual veteran projects (IVPs), there is still a huge backlog of 11 125 unfunded IVPs. [This] number is likely to increase due to the fact that veterans who did not apply are starting to apply for IVPs,” he said.
Kapofi added that 93% of the total budget was utilised on activities mainly aimed at veterans’ welfare programmes and keeping the history of the liberation struggle alive.
Shrine completed
Meanwhile, he announced that construction activities for the Cassinga Shrine had been completed.
“It will be inaugurated this year and you will be invited to the inauguration in due course,” Kapofi said.
Activities will also be put in motion to exhume veterans of the liberation struggle to designated national shrines and burial sites, he said.
“An exhumation committee has been established to oversee the exhumation and re-interment of the remains of the martyrs of the liberation struggle at designated national shrines or burial sites,” he said.
The recent Swapo congress adopted a resolution ordering government to ensure veterans of the liberation struggle are paid all their outstanding monies before 2024.
The directive is seen to be aimed at appeasing veterans, who are at loggerheads with government over unpaid project monies, ahead of the crunch 2024 general election.
“The party directs government to fully realise the cash payout of veterans of the liberation struggle before 2024, and to accelerate and finalise the application by the veterans’ association for affiliation membership,” the draft resolution read.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article