Veteran Affairs
June 2016
Veterans 8 Affairs Years in focus
Find out how the Namibian Government has paid out over N$2billion for projects to veterans of the national liberation struggle
Hon. Daniel Kashikola in the struggle
The enlightenment of Hon. Theo Ben Gurirab
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Dep Minister Hon. Hilma Nicanor: Oofuto dhoopolojeka dhoonakulwa aakulu
Veteran Affairs
Mandate To initiate, promote, and implement projects and programmes to address the socio-economic needs of the country’s veterans. Veterans Affairs is also mandated to ensure that the history of the national liberation struggle is preserved and kept alive for the present and future generation.
Mission To provide social and economic support to veterans to enable them to engage in sustainable initiatives and improve their livelihood, including keeping the history of the liberation struggle alive.
Vision To be recognized for excellence and unwaveringly uphold our values in executing our mandate.
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Veteran Affairs
Executive
Hon. Hilma Ndinelago Nicanor Dep Minister
Ambassador Hopelong U. Ipinge Permanent Secretary
Peter Mwatile Permanent Secretary(Technical advisor)
Kaatry Imalwa Director: Policy, Heritage and Social Welfare
Penofina Eises Dep Director: Social Affairs
Aino Shiyukifeni Director: Planning and Development
C Shatiwa Dep Director: Policy, Heritage & Registration services
Thaddeus Erago Dep Director: Regional Coordination
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Dr Julia Nangombe Dep Director: Project Planing and Develpment
Veteran Affairs
Editorial
Edson Haufiku(SPRO)
Welcome to Veteran Affairs The independence of Namibia was brought about by its gallant sons and daughters through their unwavering dedication towards the attainment of freedom and human dignity.
Encompassed in this 1st edition is are the activities of the two directorates, namely, The Directorate of Policy, Heritage and Social Affairs (DoPHSA) and the Directorate of Planning and Development (DoPD). Also incorporated in this edition, is a breakdown of the benefits offered by Veterans Affairs and how registered veterans benefit from these intervention programmes. In addition, we have also given feedback on some of the frequently asked questions from the veterans.
Many of these Namibians, today referred to as veterans of the national liberation struggle, sacrificed their lives, during the years of the struggle. In recognizing and appreciating the efforts of veterans for bringing about the freedom that we all enjoy today in an independent Namibia, The Department of Veterans Affairs is mandated to coordinate government’s efforts relating to all aspects of addressing the plight of veterans and to see to it that the veterans’ needs and aspirations are met.
With that, it is my hope that this Newsletter serves its intended purpose which is to inform the veterans of the national liberation struggle on the workings of their institution, Veterans Affairs.
Veterans Affairs therefore takes this opportunity to introduce the first ever Veterans Affairs Newsletter, created with the primary purpose of enlightening the veterans and the Namibian nation at large about our programmes and projects, not only for them to gain a better understandings of interventions at hand but also to create a platform to directly address many of the frequent queries from veterans.
The Newsletter will be published every quarter, while our second edition will be available this August 2016. Edson Haufiku Senior Public Relations Officer
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Veteran Affairs
Who is a Veteran? Veterans Affairs is guided by the Veterans Act (No. 2 of 2008) and the Amendment (Act No 3 of 2013). As per Section 27 (2) and (3) of the Amendment Act (No 3 of 2013), a veteran is defined as; • A person who was a member of the liberation forces, provided the person was above 18 years of age on 21 March 1990. • A person who consistently and persistently participated or engaged in any political, diplomatic or under-ground activity in furtherance of the liberation struggle up to the date of independence. • A person who owing to his or her participation in the liberation struggle was convicted, whether in Namibia or elsewhere, of any offence closely connected to the struggle and sentenced to imprisonment, provided the person continued with the liberation struggle activities after being released. • A person who was captured, detained or held by the colonial forces before or after the Cassinga Massacre of 1978, provided the persons continued with the liberation activities after being released. • A person who was captured by the colonial forces at Chetequera (Vietnam Base) and released from Mariental in 1984, provided the persons continued with the liberation activities after being released. • Persons who were captured or detained or held by the colonial forces between 1959 and 21 March 1990, and released during 1989 and 1990. • Persons who were captured or detained or held during the Pretoria Trial, and released, provided the persons continued with the liberation ctivities after being released. • Persons who were captured or detained and tortured by the colonial forces between 1959 and 21 March 1990, and who owing to any disability or incapacity caused by such torture were, upon their release, unable to continue with the liberation struggle activities.
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Affairs and Social Welfare Directorate of Policy,Veteran Heritage
PLAN Parade in Caprivi Front 1974 | Photo by Per Sanden
Registration of veterans
A
The number of registered veterans according to their gender in various regions
lthough Veterans Affairs was established in 2006, the year 2008 saw the commencement of the registration process for aspiring veterans. The entry point for Veterans Affairs to channel its support to veterans and dependents of veterans is registration. Registration enables Veterans Affairs to capture and process data of applicants so that prospective veterans are accorded veterans status by the Veterans Board. Furthermore, registration of veterans and dependents of veterans enables government to know the number of veterans in the country, where they live and their living conditions. To date 29 358 veterans of the national liberation struggle have been registered and are benefitting from the various projects and programmes within Veterans Affairs. This includes but not limited to lump sum of N$ 50 000 and N$ 20 000 depending on the year the registered veteran began his/her activities in aid of the national liberation struggle, monthly financial assistance, educational grant, medical assistance etc.
# 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ms Kaatry Imalwa Director: Directorate of Policy, Heritage and Social Affairs Tel: 061-2963006
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Region //KHARAS ERONGO HARDAP KAVANGO KAVANGO EAST KAVANGO WEST KHOMAS KUNENE OHANGWENA OMAHEKE OMUSATI OSHANA OSHIKOTO OTJOZONDUPA ZAMBEZI TOTAL APPROVED
Female 280 386 213 195 157 110 2481 189 1933 178 3160 1551 1279 654 657 13423
Male 413 560 213 274 150 117 3173 192 2408 358 2961 1407 1476 1505 729 15936
Total 693 946 426 469 307 227 5654 381 4341 536 6121 2958 2755 2159 1386 29359
Veteran Affairs
Number of approved veterans since the registration process commenced No
Year Registered Region
No. of Veterens Registered
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011
492 754 323 414 269 161 3748 283 3071 399 4048 2079 2071 2019 1248 76 36 46 1 4 962 3 142 16 232 154 95 42 8 23 36 16 4 7 5 280 23 147 28 169 93 113 32 74 2 1 46 1 341 1 881 261 240 5
//KHARAS ERONGO HARDAP KAVANGO KAVANGO EAST KAVANGO WEST KHOMAS KUNENE OHANGWENA OMAHEKE OMUSATI OSHANA OSHIKOTO OTJOZONDUPA ZAMBEZI //KHARAS ERONGO HARDAP KAVANGO KAVANGO EAST KHOMAS KUNENE OHANGWENA OMAHEKE OMUSATI OSHANA OSHIKOTO OTJOZONDUPA ZAMBEZI //KHARAS ERONGO HARDAP KAVANGO KAVANGO EAST KAVANGO WEST KHOMAS KUNENE OHANGWENA OMAHEKE OMUSATI OSHANA OSHIKOTO OTJOZONDUPA ZAMBEZI ERONGO KAVANGO KHOMAS KUNENE OHANGWENA OMAHEKE OMUSATI OSHANA OSHIKOTO OTJOZONDUPA
55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109
2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016
ZAMBEZI //KHARAS ERONGO HARDAP KAVANGO KAVANGO EAST KAVANGO WEST KHOMAS KUNENE OHANGWENA OMAHEKE OMUSATI OSHANA OSHIKOTO OTJOZONDUPA ZAMBEZI //KHARAS ERONGO HARDAP KAVANGO EAST KHOMAS KUNENE OHANGWENA OMAHEKE OMUSATI OSHANA OSHIKOTO OTJOZONDUPA ZAMBEZI //KHARAS ERONGO KAVANGO EAST KHOMAS OHANGWENA OMAHEKE OMUSATI OSHANA OSHIKOTO OTJOZONDUPA ZAMBEZI ERONGO HARDAP KAVANGO EAST KHOMAS KUNENE OHANGWENA OMUSATI OSHANA OSHIKOTO OTJOZONDUPA ZAMBEZI ERONGO KHOMAS OHANGWENA OMUSATI TOTAL
12 5 9 3 49 24 61 469 2 18 6 18 32 12 52 26 95 105 37 1 64 68 567 84 683 316 192 3 15 2 2 1 59 49 2 76 9 23 3 2 1 1 1 20 1 5 6 14 8 3 1 1 6 1 8 29358
In total 17 558 applications for registration were disapproved.
Act No.2, 2008 VETERANS ACT, 2008 Section 40: Right of appeal
(1) Any person aggrieved by a decision or an act of the Board relating to - (a) an application for registration as a veteran or dependant of a living or deceased veteran; (b) an application for assistance, funding of a project or any other benefit, suspension or stopping of payment of any such assistance, funding or any other benefit; or (c)
determination of amount of assistance, funding of a project or any other benefit granted to him or her, may, within 90 days after the date on which he or she is notified in writing by the Board of such decision or act, appeal against such decision or act, subject to the provisions of subsection (2), to the Appeal Board established under section 41.
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Veteran Affairs
Some of the benefits to veterans of the national liberation struggle Financial assistance
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n order to improve the economic well-being of veterans and their dependents, Veterans Affairs provides financial assistance to veterans of the national liberation struggle. The purpose of the financial assistance is to assist veterans of the national liberation struggle to afford the basic necessities of life in order to sustain themselves and their immediate families. This assistance is provided in two ways, namely a once-off gratuity of fifty thousand Namibian dollars (N$ 50 000) and twenty thousand Namibian dollars (N$ 20 000) respectively; and the monthly subvention of two thousand two hundred dollars (N$ 2 200). The lump sum is paid to all veterans of the liberation struggle regardless of their employment status. Veterans who participated in the activities of the liberation struggle between 1959 and 1987 will receive a lump sum of N$ 50 000 while veterans who participated in the liberation struggle activities between 1988 and 1989 will receive a lump sum of N$ 20 000. The monthly subvention of N$ 2 200 is paid to unemployed veterans and to veterans whose monthly earnings are below the tax threshold. A total of 14 279 veterans are currently receiving the monthly subvention. Table 4 and 5: Depicts the total number of veterans currently receiving the monthly subvention, also referred to as the monthly financial assistance and the total number of veterans who have received the lump sum. It is imperative to note, that the lump sum is paid to all registered veterans. Thus the difference in the figure of registered veterans and those already paid their lump sum is solely to an adequate budget. The figures are broken down into regions.
Education and Training Grant
• • •
No of Veterans paid
//KHARAS
319
ERONGO
343
HARDAP
216
KAVANGO
178
KAVANGO EAST
139
KAVANGO WEST
155
KHOMAS
1879
KUNENE
195
OHANGWENA
2610
OMAHEKE
271
OMUSATI
3629
OSHANA
1550
OSHIKOTO
1613
OTJOZONDUPA
602
ZAMBEZI
580
TOTAL
14279
treatment such as hospital admission, surgery and related fees, doctors consultation fees, pharmaceutical and pathology fees, as well as rehabilitative and nursing care services. Some veterans received assistance more than once, depending on the type of condition and treatment required.
The Education and Training Grant is aimed at providing financial support to veterans and dependents of veterans who wish to further their studies or obtain vocational skills at institutions of higher learning, in order to improve their living conditions. All approved applicants of the Education and Training Grant are funded to a maximum of N$ 25 000 per year. The total number of beneficiaries who benefitted since the inception of the education and training programme currently stands at 1076. •
Region
Of these, 5 are PHD, 22 are Masters while 118 are upgrading skills through short-courses. 25 veterans have so far completed their studies. The total number of veteran’s dependents who benefitted or are benefitting from the educational grant since inception? is: 676 About 65 dependents have so far completed their studies. This number is only for those have submitted their certificates after completion.
Veterans receive medical assistance The national liberation struggle left many veterans with various psychological problems. Some veterans are either suffering from posttraumatic effects of the war or are disabled. Moreover, veterans that are still fit for employment are finding it difficult to secure meaningful employment due to the fact that many have limited educational training. Chief Social worker Ms Monica Stephanus handing over a mobility aid to a veteran
These veterans received mobility aides such as wheelchairs and artificial limbs, whilst others benefited from the payment of
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Veteran Affairs
Oofuto dhoopolojeka dhoonakulwa aakulu Keshe omunakulwa omukulu ngoka iishangitha okwashilipalekwa okumona ofuto ye yopolojeka. Mopayife Uuministeli wOonakulwa aakulu otawu kwathele keshe omunakulwa omukulu nokufutila opolojeka ye niimaliwa kaayivulithe pomayovi omathele gaali (N$200 000.00). Shino oshahala okutya keshe omunakulwa omukulu ota vulu okufutilwa opolojeka ye okuza piimaliwa eyovi (N$1000.00) okuuka pombanda.
4.2.1 Opolojeka oshike?
Oshitya opolojeka muuministeli wOonakulwa aakulu oshahala okutya oongeshefa adhihe tadhi eta eliko, dhoka oonakulwa aakulu yahala okutotapo neelalakano yiimonene oshimaliwa nokushiwa ya yambulepo oonkalamwenyo dhawo noshowo okuyambulapo eliko lyoshilongo.
4.2.2 Ole tavulu okumona ekwathelo lyoshimaliwa shoPolojeka? Keshe omunakulwa omukulu iishangitha ngoka ena ohokwe yokumona ekwathelo lyofuto ota vulu okuninga eyindilo lyopambapila mofoloma (Form VA 8) okuzilila kelelo lyoonakulwa aakulu.
4.2.3 Omawuwanawa gokukala nopolojeka/ ongeshefa yoye Iiyemo mbi tayizi mongeshefa oyivulithe pwaambi omuntu tavulu okumona komwedhi. Oonakulwa aakulu oyena ompito yoku gwedhela oongeshefa dhawo, sho otashi etitha egwedhelo kiiyemo yoongeshefa dhawo. Ongeshefa otayivulu okutsikila nomapipi gokomeho, nashino otashi etitha iiyemo mezimo alihe. Oonakulwa aakulu otaya gwedhele keliko lyaNamibia nokukuthapo ompumbwe yiilonga okuzilila moongeshefa dhawo.
4.2.4 Ofuto yopolojeka yomunakulwa omukulu Elelo otali vulu okuzilila mokatendo 35 (3) ha kagandja uuthemba wofuto. Ondando yopolojeka yapitikwa kelelo inaayipitilila pomayovi omathele gaali (N$200 000.00) mwakwatelwa iihohela inayipitilila 10% petameko.Ngaashi sha shashangwa, omunakulwa omukulu ngoka aninga eyindilo lyathika po N$170, 000.00 yokufutila opolojeka, elelo lyoonakulwa aakulu otali vulu okuyipitika kwagwehwa iihohela yili pokati (1%-10%) nashino omunakulwa omukulu otavulu okupitikwa nomwaalu go N$178, 500.00 naangono ogo taguvulu okukuthwako komunakulwa omukulu omanga omwaalu go N$21 500. 00 itagu vulu okukuthwako shaashi kugushi we gomunakulwa omukulu.Iimaliwa ayishe mbyoka yapitikwa kelelo lyoonakulwa aakulu oyina okulongithwa pamukalo ngoka yaindililwa. Dep Minister: Hon. Hilma Ndinelago Nicanor
Pampito mpa iimaliwa yalongithwa inashi uthwa ngaashi ya pitikwa, elelo lyoonakulwa aakulu olina uuthemba woku kaleka opolojeka yanakupewa iimaliwa, na elelo otalivulu okukuthako iimaliwa tashizilile mokatendo 34 koonakulwa aakulu.
Omushangwa taguulike kutya ongeshefa oyili kombinga yashike. Ombapila yokamutse yashilipalekwa kopolisi. Ombapila yokakalata kanakulwa omukulu kashilipalekwa kopolisi (Onomola yomunakulwa omukulu). Ombapila yondjokana yashilipalekwa kopolisi. Ombapila yeso (mpa tashi vulika) Ombapila yokaslepa kopayife kashilipalekwa kopolisi. Ombapila yombaanga ngeenge oho ilongele mwene.
Iimaliwa yapopiwa pombanda itayi pewa omunakulwa omukulu koomuma, ihe otayi futu ashike iilongitho mbyoka yaningilwa eyindilo okuzilila kelelo lyoonakulwa aakulu.Opo eyindilo lyopolojeka yoye litambulweko, owuna okuninga iinima tayilandula; Owuna okuudhitha mofoloma VA8 hayizi kUumisteli wOonakulwa aakulu, niinima tayilandula oyina okukwatelwako kofoloma:
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Veteran Affairs Profile
The Struggle I know: Hon. Daniel Kashikola
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ace to face with Koevoet after an all-night exchange of firepower, followed by a high speed desert chase, People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (Plan) fighter Comrade Denga acted on instinct and adrenalin.
Comrade Denga had been left scared by the previous night’s battle and he had advised his fellow comrades to leave him behind to avoid slowing them down as they retreated after an ambush. Rewind to the night before, at around midnight, a group of 25 PLAN guerrillas led by Comrade Johnny Walker Eenhana aka John Kahepulo swiftly moved into Onethindi to bomb and destroy the bridge that supplied the Koevoet. Little did they know they were walking into an ambush.
With no time to consider his own safety, bleeding profusely from a wound he had sustained from the shrapnel of a 60mm mortar, he lay still inside a bush, writhing in pain, eyes blurry as this koevoet kept advancing. “From the moment I saw him advancing towards the shrub that provided my cover, I began counting his steps. I figured that at the count of 12, he would be close enough for my comfort, so I readied my weapon,” Comrade Denga, as Daniel Kashikola was called during the struggle, narrated.
“Being the second in charge, I took Comrade Kambwa and Comrade Abisai with me and headed north to scan our surroundings and provide cover for the explosives team that was busy working on the bridge,” narrated Denga, also known as Comrade Nandemupa in other regions where he operated during Namibia’s struggle for independence.
From a distance, a helicopter had landed near the Onethindi bridge, members of the South African Defence Forces were loading the casualties of the previous night’s battle while another group was searching the nearby terrain where Denga lay dying; only that one of the Afrikaner soldiers was advancing towards this Plan guerrilla.
In the cover of darkness, another reconnaissance team of three led by Comrade Aaron Niilonga, headed south of
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Veteran Affairs
the bridge. No sooner had Denga and his team found a perfect spot than a loud commanding voice barked; “Hold!”
A few mortar bombs rained but missed the three. It was one that sounded like lightning that struck the ground next comrade Denga, with a very loud ear-splitting crack and a percussion airwave that threw him over. In a split second, a grey cloud of dust engulfed the night around Denga and debris flew everywhere. Some pierced his right leg, cutting him deep under the thigh, the other ones landed on his waist area. As he lay inside that shrub the following morning counting the Boer’s steps getting closer ....5....6....7 he realised the sharp crack of landing mortars had deafened him. He could see the advancing Boer but not hear footsteps.
In a flash, Denga who was in front swiftly swung his already cocked AK47 and fired in the direction of the voice. Even a debutant fighter did not need training to detect the ‘enemy’ voice from a cough. “I suspect they were not ready to respond to our fire because they thought being three, they could easily apprehend us.” Alas, the Koevoet had miscalculated. The three guerrillas were not ready to die yet. A massive exchange of fire soon occurred. By the time the team that had gone to recon the south of the bridge returned to report that they had seen the ‘Boers,’ but had not fired at them. Commander Eenhana had heard the gun fight from the north of the bridge and ordered his comrades to retreat to the south.
When the ‘Boer,’ reached step count ten, Denga tightened the grip of his magazine, positioned his weapon without blinking away from the advancing enemy. “Somehow, as he reached my target mark, he turned a little towards the west after being signalled back. It was a relief. As soon as they were out of sight, I crawled into the hands of one old woman who nursed me,” exclaims Denga. Later that day, the then 25 year-old was cycled back to Oniihua where he joined the rest of his group: he was immediately transferred to Oukango Assembly Point. The intensity of his injuries landed him in Angola at a hospital headed by Utoni Nujoma. Later they transferred him to Peter Nanyemba Military Hospital where the shrapnel was removed.
“They must have expected us to fight pulling back towards the bridge to join them escape by fighting through the ‘Boers,’in the south of the bridge. But from our position, we could not retreat, the terrain was too plain and we risked getting shot. So the three of us fought bravely and were encouraged by the sound of the gun fight on the other side of the bridge.” A barrage of guerrilla gunfire opened from behind as the main group of 22 fought its way out of the trap, leaving the trio isolated. Like a rat which eats its way out of a trap, they played dead. And the apartheid forces would blunder by advancing towards the guerrillas. Within five feet, all hell broke loose. “We fired while advancing towards them. They could not turn back; all they could do was hide, which gave us an opportunity to run for dear life,” he related. But running for dear life meant giving their backs to the enemy. By this time, the Koevoet platoon at the south started firing the 60mm mortar towards fleeing guerrillas, up north. The louder the ‘swoosh swoosh’, sound, the closer the mortar was going to hit.
“There is still one comrade that we do not know what happened to him that night. We have never heard of him ever since,” he says. But it was only afterwards that the full significance of his heroics became clear. His prey turned out to be one of the highest casualties effected on koevoet in terms of injuries. From that lucky escape in 1982, Hon Daniel Kashikola is now the Deputy Minister of Safety and Security, in an independent Namibia.
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Veteran Affairs Directorate of Planning and Development
Individual Veterans Projects (IVPs) Ms Aino Shiyukifeni Directorate of Planning and Development Job Title: Director Postal: P/Bag 13407, Fax: 61 305938 | Email: ashiyukifeni@mova.gov.na
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livelihoods or that of their immediate families as well as contributing to the economic development of the country. Any registered veteran of the national liberation struggle qualifies for funding of IVPs of his/her own choice. To this regard, Veterans Affairs assists veterans with a project funding for an amount up to a maximum of not more than N$ 200 000. Currently 9860 registered veterans have had their projects approved and funded by Veterans Affairs at a cost of close to two billion Namibian dollars (1,914,412,148.76) .
he word project refers to all types of business activities with an economic value, that are undertaken by veterans to either generate income or contribute to the improvement of their
The gender ratio amongst the applicants REGION
SEX Female
# of IVP
Total AMOUNT APPROVED (N$)
Male
Erongo
97
100
197
41,534 945.14
Hardap
20
37
57
10,968 406.60
//Kharas
41
59
100
19,352 789.64
Kavango (East and West)
76
150
226
43,616 406.95
Khomas
567
545
1,112
217,638 490.06
Kunene
33
62
95
19,394 528.04
Ohangwena
618
1,029
1,647
319,779 885.5
Omaheke
37
132
169
32,560 130.13
Omusati
1,112
1,665
2,777
538,316 814.47
Oshana
581
749
1,330
256,118 720.2
Oshikoto
670
1,000
1,670
322,256 940.86
Otjozondjupa
126
213
338
65,221 802.09
Zambezi
38
104
142
27,652 289.13
TOTAL
4,016
5,844
9,860
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1,914 412 148.76
Veteran Affairs
Funding for Individual Veterans Projects Any registered veteran qualifies for funding of a project of his/her own choice. Currently, the Ministry can assist a veteran with project funding for an amount up to a maximum of not more than N$200 000.00 per project. This means a veteran may receive funding as from N$1000.00 etc.
What is a Project? •
The word Project within the Ministry of Veterans Affairs refers to all types of business activities with an economic value that, are undertaken by veterans to either generate income or contribute to the improvement of their livelihoods or that of their families as well as contributing to the economic development of the country.
Funding of Individual Veterans Projects •
Who can benefit from the Funding of Projects? Any registered veteran who wishes to benefit from the funding of individual veterans projects must, in the prescribed form (Form VA 8) apply for such assistance from the Veterans Board.
•
•
The Board may, for the purpose of section 35 (3) of the Act, authorize payment from the Fund (a) for the cost of any project approved by the Board up to a maximum of two hundred thousand dollars (N$200,000.00) inclusive of not more than 10% for initial running or administrative cost.
As an illustration, the veteran who applies and provides quotations for an amount of N$170,000.00 for the funding of his or her project, the Veterans Board may approve the amount applied for plus the allocated percentage of that amount for administrative cost which can be between one (1%-10%) and in this case a veteran can be approved for the amount of N$178,500.00 and that will be the amount to be given to the veteran ,the veteran cannot claim the remaining amount of N$21 500.00,because the remaining amount does not belong to the veteran.
Benefits of running your own project/Business •
generations to come. This is, therefore beneficial to the whole family’s future. Veterans will contribute towards growing the Namibian economy and help reduce the level of unemployment through their projects/business.
The amount of income generated by a business is by far much bigger than a salary or an allowance. Veterans will have an opportunity to expand their business thereby increasing their profits and wealth. They have an opportunity to determine their social-economic future and champion their own destiny. A business or project can continue running for many
Veteran Affairs capital projects Veterans Affairs took over some former Development Brigade Corporation (DBC) projects, namely Okatope Poultry Farm and Star Protection Services, as a Cabinet decision to engage in successful businesses. These income generating projects were to be refurbished and diversify their operations based on different economic sectors, such as manufacturing, agriculture, safety and security, as well as construction. These initiatives are in line with the National Development goals on social and economic reconstruction.
Etaka Recreational Centre
The fencing around the centre was completed during the 2014/2015 financial year, along with the guard house and two (2) chalets which were completed during the 2015/2016 financial year. The main building is still under construction, pending the finalization of the appointment of a new consultant. Repairs are also currently underway at a section of the damaged fence.
Etaka is a veteran’s recreational facility that forms part of Veterans Affairs Capital projects. The centre is being constructed with the aim of affording all registered veterans of the national liberation struggle the ambience for leisure, palliative care as well as other psychosocial and physiotherapy services. The total cost of the project is about N$ 66 million, to be constructed in stages according to the budget availed per financial year. The budget for the 2016/2017 financial year amounts to N$ 4, 8 million. The facility will be accessible to both the veterans, their dependents and the general public.
Okatope Poultry Farm
This is a former Development Brigade Corporation project at Okatope in the Oshikoto Region taken over by Veterans Affairs with the purpose of generating capital for the Veterans Funds. The project is still in the planning phase. A team of engineers, architects and quantity surveyors has been appointed. The architectural drawings are in place and the fencing of the plot has also been completed.
Star Protection Services
Inaugurated in March 2015, Star Protection Services is one of the successful projects implemented by Veterans Affairs, which is currently running a Security Company that guards and protects the government and private premises across the country. STAR PROTECTION SERVICES (PTY) LTD
Administrative Assistant Lucas Nambelela of the project office assisting veterans
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Total Number of Employees
376
Total Number of Male Employees
312
Total Number of Female Employees
64
Number of War Veteran Employees
2
Number of Clients
72
Total Income Generated during 2015/2016 financial year
N$ 14, 667, 414
Veteran Affairs
Veterans of the liberation struggle explore property market
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“It basically covered the whole construction. We only took out a loan for the finishing touches and stuff such as the door frames,” he explained. According to him, they also scouted for a very reasonable professional builder to ensure that everything went smoothly. The couple makes about N$8 000 per month from rentals and they use the money generated from these rentals to support their immediate as well as extended family members.
wo veterans in Erongo Region have ventured into the property market to generate a decent income for their families.
It was reported by New Era Newspaper that despite facing numerous challenges, especially in the construction phase of their projects, they used their grants of N$180 000 and N$200 000 to build flats. Johanna Ananias, who previously worked in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare received a grant of N$180 000 from the ministry, which she used to renovate her house and build three backyard flats. Ananias (52) is one of the first 10 veterans in Erongo who got grants from the ministry in 2011. She also runs a shop and is happy she used her grant wisely compared to other veterans, who squandered their grants on alcohol.
“Two of our children are currently enrolled at a private school in town while my eldest attended college last year, thanks to the rental income we make,” he said. Both veterans say the ministry’s grant scheme is indeed a good initiative that can alleviate poverty and create jobs if applied correctly by recipients.
“I only borrowed about N$30 000 from the bank to cover additional costs of the construction,” she said. Ananias explained that she generates about N$6 000 in rentals while she also makes additional income from her shop that she renovated with some of the money from the veterans grant. “I currently employ two people but overall I am supporting more than six family members from the earnings from my business,” she said. Namibian Defence Force (NDF) member 43-year-old Emilie Shatilwapo, who is also a veteran, opted to invest the N$200 000 grant she got from the ministry in property rather than buying a car. “We realised that this was the only way we could secure longterm income for our family,” she says. Her husband, Paul, who was instrumental in the construction of the flats at their home in Kuisebmund, decided to mould his own bricks as a cost-saving measure and also ensure that the grant covered at least 95 percent of their construction.
Housing and Resettlement programme
A
ny eligible veteran of the national liberation struggle who meets the criteria of the housing benefit can apply. The housing benefit is aimed at providing shelter and decent accommodation to homeless and veterans living in deplorable conditions. A standard housing unit consists of three (3) bedrooms, a dining and living room, kitchen, a flush toilet (where possible) and a bathroom or shower. The identification of possible beneficiaries is done in collaboration with the Regional Councilors who then register the eligible veterans in their respective constituencies. After the veterans register for the benefit, Veterans Affairs does a housing needs assessment to determine the current housing conditions of the eligible veterans to approve those that are most needy. During the period of reporting, Veterans Affairs approved and constructed 230 houses, with a 102 houses expected to be constructed during the current financial year. Houses under this programme are constructed at an amount between N$ 550 000 to N$ 600 000.
#
Region
No. Of houses constructed since inception
1
Erongo
9
2
Hardap
16
3
Karas
9
4
Kavango East
14
5
Kavango West
4
6
Khomas
11
7
Kunene
7
8
Ohangwena
38
9
Omaheke
11
10
Oshana
10
11
Oshikoto
31
12
Omusati
39
13
Otjozondjupa
10
Depicts the number of veteran houses constructed for veterans per region.
14
Zambezi
15
Total
230
Depicts the number of farms purchased and the number of resettled veterans. These farms were purchased during the 2014/2015 financial year at an amount of N$17 million.
Number of farms
6
Number of resettled veterans
14
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Veteran Affairs
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Veteran Affairs Legacy
The Enlightenment of Theo Ben Gurirab
I
didn’t get involved in the struggle for liberation as an honourable or even as a member of the Swapo Party. Swapo was founded around 1960, by then I was at teacher training and secondary school institution at Augustineum in Okahandja for a year. Augustineum and Dobra had the largest number of student intake in the country that time and they were led by the Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches respectively. Amidst us were names like Hidipo Hamutenya, Hage Geingob, Ben Amadhila, Libertine Amathila, Apollus Biko and others, who became part of my growth. At that time, 1959-1960, Africa was beginning to speak louder about countries that were gaining independence, particularly from North Africa. We were excited to read and hear about the decolonisation of Africa in Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, later Ghana, Mali and Guinea. We would trace the African map of decolonisation from the North to the West and somehow became eager to have it in the South. Names like Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere were sticking on us. Somehow that wave stopped in central Africa in Zaire (now DRC). We were baffled. But the fact that it was moving towards the southern direction left yearning for more. Fortunately, events in South Africa had a strong impact on us as a number of our seniors studied in there. Among them was Fanuel Jariretundu Kazonguizi, who later became the President of Swanu. He had gotten to know of prominent men in the formation of ANC such as Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki and others. During the school holidays he would make time to share his experiences with them, and that mixed with what we were hearing from up North and West Africa. I can even feel the excitement today. The names of the likes of Jomo Kenyatta, Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo were beginning to resonate as well around us. Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda would label the Central African Federation
By: Theo Ben Gurirab
The quest for independence started long before the formation of the Swapo Party. Today as I sit in retirement from public life, I spend my time with family. The younger generation comes up with questions on the family tree or what happened to so and so in the 1960s or in the 1980s. Some want to inquire about their parents, others want to understand the family tree. I spent 27 years (1962-1989) outside Namibia. Today I read a lot and compare notes with some of the older generation who are alive. Well, of course I miss the daily routine of set programmes, chairing meetings, planning, engaging visitors to Parliament etcetera.
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Veteran Affairs
coming from Northern Namibia because of the church linkage with the North, and that’s when we got to hear of people like Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo and their exploits at the Omaruru farm.
of South and North Rhodesia as well as Nyasaland which were all under British colonial rule as, “the stupid British Central African Federation.” That coming from a ‘white man’ was like a catalyst to a revolution. He would speak on radio in English and it was foreign to us. Afrikaans was the language then.
My hometown being Usakos where the main railway was, I became fascinated by what we heard of Andimba, and considering he would stop-over my hometown on his way to Omaruru, the urge to stand up like him grew.
By the end of 1960, we had an increase in the number of students
In that hometown, there were stories told of a great man, one railway police officer, Simon Kaukungwa who later became known as Simon Kaukungwa, was a notable figure for the Ovambo People Organisation (OPO now Swapo). I knew Kaukungwa before I knew OPO, and by that time, my mind was far ahead of Namibia’s own story. The two main emerging political parties SWANU and OPO begun talking against the Old locations set-up and the concentration of black people. There were advocating the same things and that further played with my young mind. There was also growing common sense between the church leaders and aspirant political organisations. Somehow the church supported our belief as we regularly met in unity to plan on how we can act. We would talk of how the SWANU and OPO, now Swapo would speak the same language and not contradict the story. We had to petition to the United Nations with one tone. I was not politically conscious that time, but my brain was being washed on the language against the common enemy. We had to know of the difference between apartheid and colonisation, and our engagements during sports activities at the school institutions allowed us time to discuss what was happening in other countries, such as the mobilisation of the ANC in South Africa and the birth of the Pan Africanist Congress. We were linking what all these people were saying, Nkrumah was saying ‘Africa must be free’, we enjoyed it but did not know that it required organisation, not just an expression, but ideology, a political program, individual program, individual conviction.
17
Veteran Affairs The paperwork was done after our leader Nathaniel Maxuilili gave us the greenlight but he was worried on how we were going to leave the country. This clever fellow who was close to Pohamba got us a ‘pass’ to leave Walvis Bay and travel out of Namibia to Nyasaland, ‘our home country’. The regime checked our papers and records and we were clean.
The police were not taking us seriously as young people, by the time we moved to finish studies in Walvis Bay in 1962 as a bunch, all these things were imprinting themselves in our minds. I was now aware of the presence of black people across Africa. All this time, we thought we were the only blacks living with whites in our land. We were quick to embrace one of our traditional leaders, Hosea Kutako and then got to know some of our leaders from the South, whom we never knew. And these new what the land issue meant.
My name was Peter Maxulila born in Blantyre Nyasaland and he produced a document that looked legal as if issued by the regime to allow us to travel.
The church linked us to their mother churches in Holland and other countries and connected some of our colleagues particularly those coming from the North as some church leaders would travel between the North and the UK, Germany and Holland. So there was a growing sense of common purpose between the church, traditional leaders, students, growing political aspirants.
It was easy for the Herero fellows to leave the country and go abroad. They would just say they are visiting their relatives in Botswana, and from there they would link to Francistown and leave the country. For some of us we had to compromise. As we left we passed through Windhoek and spent some days trekking prominent Swapo and Swanu personalities to give us money because we were going to pass through South Africa and we wanted tips on what to avoid in South Africa.
The people such as Ben Amadhila were already part of OPO and were a step ahead some of us in being linked to some activities of the people who left the country and had an opportunity to go to the UN as petitioners where they met in person the likes Kwame Nkurumah, Julius Nyerere and President Abdul Nasser. Those connections filtered to us, through sympathetic church leaders.
A popular name was Brian Geingob, the acting Secretary General of Swapo, who called himself Brian Bassingwaighte. He assisted us greatly with an introductory letter outside Namibia so that they know we were not Nyasaland people but Namibians.
When Swapo was founded, Walvis Bay was the most active branch although the HQ was Windhoek. The vigour was there. We found ways to link up with the comrades who were in Europe and the US.
It was on a Sunday when Joshua Hoebeb was playing the trumpet, that we left by train through Upington, then Mafikeng, until we reached Francistown. We arrived safely, not arrested or molested by the regime. Four days later we were in Francistown where we met Peter Nanyemba, Peter Katjavivi, Fernand Meroro and two other guys whom we had met in Windhoek and had left a few days before us. I knew Nanyemba from my days when Ben Amadhila had introduced him to me when we were working to raise pocket money at the factories. So we easily gelled for the week we stayed there.
The UN became the information centre since more information was being disseminated and through the grapevine we learnt that countries like Ghana and Tanzania were preparing training facilities for our people to go and prepare for war of liberation. Remember they had just been liberated. And we had learnt of the big wars that had taken place in previous years in Namibia, even before our own parents were born. We were told our people had risen up against the Germans who had taken our land and confined us to places alien to us, and we linked that with the contract labour system. We learnt that the countries that were now independent had fought themselves through. We came to realise the consequences of defeat of the Hitler regime in World War II. In my case, the Erongo region, my hometown, Usakos and Karibib felt the success of overcoming the Germans in the World War, and I was eager to feel it the whole country.
colony.
If you successfully reached Francistown, you were virtually West bound because it a had strong underground
ZAPU in Bulawayo Zimbabwe, ANC was operational, Swapo was strong there and also the Zambian party UNIP of Michael Tembo would congregate between Bulawayo and Francistown through regional representatives. Michael Mawema was a popular name of Zapu, he would allow us to visit Zimbabwe.
There was a growing desire to follow the footsteps of our forefathers who had encountered severe treatment than us. People started sharing their frustration and anger about what the white people were doing to us. The Namas, the Hereros were all affected and shared experiences of victimisation.
Nanyemba would take us into Zimbabwe by train for fun. Until today I don’t know why Nanyemba got arrested in the train, when we were supposed to keep a low profile. When Nanyemba was arrested, one fellow called Brian wrote a letter that he asked one South African, a former college mate in South Africa, to deliver to New York to Mburuma Kerina at the UN about the Namibian students arrested by Rhodesian police. It was very convincing. There was petitioning and there were released and in no time we linked up in Zambia to go to Dar es Salam towards the end of September.
These individual pieces enlightened us. It was a political awareness that grew out of social awareness about the common interest of the majority. During September 1962 school holidays, I and my colleague decided to leave the country. We met one man who had been with Hifikepunye Pohamba in Tsumeb who cooked up a story that we were not from Namibia and had come to Namibia as small boys and now our parents had died and we wanted to go back home to Nyasaland.
It was the first time in Dar es Salaam when I was with Libertine Amathila and others that we got to witness independence when Nyerere took over. Just that feeling was enough to boost the cause.
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Veteran Affairs
Remembering Comrade Nanyemba
P
eter Eneas Nanyemba grew up in the north of Namibia herding cattle, while at the same time struggling to attend school. It was while working in Walvis Bay that Peter became aware of the harshness of the colonial and apartheid system, and the need to do something about it. He was inspired and encouraged by many who shared his vision of a free and independent Namibia. In 1962, Peter decided to join others already abroad in order to wage the struggle from outside of Namibia. He briefly served as a Swapo representative in East Africa with a base in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
During the Tanga Consultative Conference, he was elected Secretary of Defence, a position he held until his tragic death on the 01 April 1983 in Lubango. He was instrumental in arranging training and equipping PLAN. By 1975, PLAN was a force to reckon with. The Shipanga rebellion was an internal setback for both Swapo and PLAN. It was here that Comrade Nanyema played a pivotal role in winning the confidence of the youth to fight. To be continued in the next edition
Peter Nanyemba
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Veteran Affairs
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