Defining war veterans

Government has allocated millions of Namibian dollars to the Ministry of Veterans Affairs for the education of “war veterans and their dependents” in the wake of the unending “fees must fall” saga currently experienced at our institutions of higher learning. This while students are still seeking clarification about outstanding debts and registration fees ie., to pay or not to pay… One cannot help wondering how far this amount of money and the titanic amount allocated to the new parliament building could have gone to solve more urgent problems with poverty eradication, student debt, delivery/servicing of land, housing and efficient service delivery within the social system. We also have information that the definition of “war veterans and their dependents” is very narrow according to the directive and reeks of exclusivity since it is definitely not designed to benefit all Namibian students, and there are many. The same old story as the benefit pay-outs for veterans previously, it benefitted only selected veterans. By practicing such selectivity, which has now become blatantly obvious by its very regularity, dangerous precedents are being set – more free taxpayer money for selected people to line their pockets with; and opening the floodgates for more people to demand free money. The resolve of people seeking change to better themselves should never be underestimated, the health service is in ICU, hospitals need renovation, schools need books urgently, housing and land delivery is also urgent, food is becoming more expensive by the day, energy production is insufficient, and to compound it all we have a drought and water is in short supply. Is there any prioritisation exercised by government at all, or are these selective actions only designed to hoodwink people into believing that they care. Many people are suffering and do not have bread on their tables and roofs over their heads, many live in destitution and squalor. Crime has risen as a result. Poverty eradication, land delivery, education, employment creation and social improvement should not be an exclusive exercise to benefit select Namibians; it must encompass all sectors of society.