The Ministry of Veterans' Affairs has set aside N$25 million for the
current financial year but the money will only reach about 500 of the
estimated more than 40 000 veterans in the country.
Minister Ngarikutuke Tjiriange said they have received up to 38 000 applications and the registration is still continuing.
Since roughly 40 000 people were repatriated in 1989, one would
obviously expect the figure of the veterans to be higher than 40 000
because not all veterans are necessarily former returnees. Veterans of
the struggle for national liberation as we define them comprise those
who fought from exile and those who led the struggle from within the
country, he said.
He said they have identified those who are about to leave us (meaning
too old) as first recipients but there was a likelihood that the
budgeted amount could increase to N$50 million or even N$100 million
next year as Government divides payment into financial years to avoid
paying everyone once, as it would not be financially viable.
So far 3 506 of the applications have been approved as genuine veterans
by the Veterans Board while 108 have been referred back and 8 200
budgeted for the N$2 000 allowances they get.
Last year Parliament approved a decision to increase the monthly pension for veterans from N$500 to N$2 000.
Tjiriange revealed that there were delays in paying the veterans the
increment as they were supposed to start receiving the money from last
April.
As a result some of the veterans are getting back pay of N$24 000 – that is N$2 000 for 12 months.
The Namibian
Post published in: Zimbabwe News