N$19 billion spent on war veterans since 2010
JEMIMA BEUKES
Namibia has a total of 30 045 war veterans and 6 091 children of veterans between 8 and 18 registered with the veterans ministry, on whom a total of N$19 billion was spent between 2010 and September this year.
These were confirmed by the minister of defence and veteran affairs, Frans Kapofi, in parliament last week.
A total of N$32.3 million was derived from fishing quotas and was paid to the Veteran’s Fund between 2014 and 2019 to pay for veterans’ projects.
So far, N$4.2 billion aone has been spend on the monthly financial allowance for 18 663 veterans, ranging between N$2 500 and N$5 500.
In addition to this, N$2 billion was spent on funding for individual projects of 11 057 veterans, while N$1.6 billion was spent on the improvement grant of veterans who suffered serious injuries during the liberation struggle.
Waiting
An additional N$9.7 billion was spent on programmes benefiting veterans of Namibia's liberation struggle, while some are still waiting for their pay-outs or project funding.
“It is not by design that some of the veterans have had to wait this long for their project funding. It is actually government's desire to see all projects funded.
“However, insufficient funds due to the economic downturn have not made the government's task easy in this regard.
“As to when they can expect to receive such benefit, it would be inappropriate for me to give such an indication given the turbulent economic times in which we find ourselves,” said Kapofi.
All 30 045 veterans have received the lump sum payment of N$50 000 or N$20 000, while to date a total of 1 008 of the qualifying dependents have benefited from the education and training grant for tertiary studies
The N$50 000 is paid to those veterans who were active in the liberation struggle between 1959 and 1990, while a lump sum of N$20 000 is paid to those active in the liberation struggle between 1988 and 1990.
Kapofi added that so far 21 526 veterans have applied for funding for income-generation projects, of which only 10 448 were funded, while a total of 61 veterans died while awaiting funding for their projects.
[email protected]
Namibia has a total of 30 045 war veterans and 6 091 children of veterans between 8 and 18 registered with the veterans ministry, on whom a total of N$19 billion was spent between 2010 and September this year.
These were confirmed by the minister of defence and veteran affairs, Frans Kapofi, in parliament last week.
A total of N$32.3 million was derived from fishing quotas and was paid to the Veteran’s Fund between 2014 and 2019 to pay for veterans’ projects.
So far, N$4.2 billion aone has been spend on the monthly financial allowance for 18 663 veterans, ranging between N$2 500 and N$5 500.
In addition to this, N$2 billion was spent on funding for individual projects of 11 057 veterans, while N$1.6 billion was spent on the improvement grant of veterans who suffered serious injuries during the liberation struggle.
Waiting
An additional N$9.7 billion was spent on programmes benefiting veterans of Namibia's liberation struggle, while some are still waiting for their pay-outs or project funding.
“It is not by design that some of the veterans have had to wait this long for their project funding. It is actually government's desire to see all projects funded.
“However, insufficient funds due to the economic downturn have not made the government's task easy in this regard.
“As to when they can expect to receive such benefit, it would be inappropriate for me to give such an indication given the turbulent economic times in which we find ourselves,” said Kapofi.
All 30 045 veterans have received the lump sum payment of N$50 000 or N$20 000, while to date a total of 1 008 of the qualifying dependents have benefited from the education and training grant for tertiary studies
The N$50 000 is paid to those veterans who were active in the liberation struggle between 1959 and 1990, while a lump sum of N$20 000 is paid to those active in the liberation struggle between 1988 and 1990.
Kapofi added that so far 21 526 veterans have applied for funding for income-generation projects, of which only 10 448 were funded, while a total of 61 veterans died while awaiting funding for their projects.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article