Funding freezes veterans’ houses, farms …over 11 000 war vets unpaid, N$1.9b needed

Auleria Wakudumo

The veterans affairs ministry has suspended house construction and resettlement for liberation struggle veterans due to financial constraints.

The development comes as more than 11 000 veterans remain unpaid under the ministry’s Individual Veterans’ Projects (IVPs), with the government requiring about N$1.9 billion to settle the outstanding payments.

According to a presentation to the National Council on the organisation’s roles and functions of the ministry, 26 423 veterans are registered, of whom 15 370 have received IVP payments, while 11 053 have not yet been paid.

The ministry said it requires N$1.9 billion to pay the outstanding veterans.

The presentation further indicates that the government spends an average of N$81 million per month on financial grants to veterans. This translates to about N$1 billion annually.