IPC says Kapofi missed the point on protesting veterans

Allexer Namundjembo

The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has accused minister of defence and veterans affairs Frans Kapofi of sidestepping concerns over protesting liberation struggle veterans, saying he misrepresented a parliamentary question that called for direct intervention rather than an explanation of veterans’ benefits.

IPC shadow minister of defence and veterans affairs Aloisius Kangulu told the Windhoek Observer on Sunday that his urgent oral question in the National Assembly last week was intended to urge Kapofi to personally engage veterans who have been camping outside the Swapo Party headquarters in Windhoek and help facilitate a resolution to their grievances.

“I wish to clarify that his response was, in my view, misdirected, misplaced, and potentially misleading,” Kangulu said.

His remarks follow Kapofi’s response in Parliament last week, in which the minister said the veterans continued to receive all benefits due to them under the law and maintained that their protest was not directed at the veterans ministry or the government.