Sostenus Wilherm
The shadow minister of defence and veterans affairs, Aloisius Kangulu, has demanded that the government account for a N$1.9 billion funding gap required to settle outstanding Individual Veterans’ Projects (IVPs) for approximately 11 000 liberation veterans.
Kangulu’s call follows revelations by the ministry of defence and veterans affairs that only 15 000 of Namibia’s 26 000 registered liberation veterans have so far benefited from the IVP programme, leaving thousands still waiting for assistance.
The programme provides registered liberation veterans with a once-off N$200 000 grant to establish income-generating projects and improve their livelihoods.
According to major general Petrus Nathinge, the ministry’s deputy executive director for strategic policy, research and coordination, N$1.9 billion is required to fund the remaining beneficiaries.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Kangulu called on defence and veterans affairs minister Frans Kapofi to provide parliament with a clear and time-bound plan outlining how the required funds will be secured and when the outstanding beneficiaries will receive their assistance.
Kangulu also questioned why such a substantial backlog has been allowed to develop, particularly when many of the affected veterans are elderly and remain economically vulnerable.
“The government must explain why such a significant backlog has been allowed to develop,” Kangulu said.
The shadow minister said the government should not only focus on commemorating the country’s liberation struggle but must also ensure that those who participated in it receive meaningful economic support while they are still alive.
He said the N$1.9 billion requirement should be treated as an urgent policy and financial matter rather than a long-term obligation that can continue to be deferred.
Kangulu further called for a broader and more inclusive approach to Namibia’s natural resources, arguing that the country’s growing mining and other resource sectors should create tangible opportunities for liberation veterans, unemployed youth and other vulnerable Namibians.
He urged the government to establish transparent mechanisms that would enable citizens to participate meaningfully in sectors including fisheries, agriculture, mining-related businesses and public procurement.
According to Kangulu, Namibia’s natural resources should not merely generate revenue for government and private companies but should also translate into sustainable livelihoods and economic opportunities for ordinary Namibians.
“Natural resources should not only generate revenue for the State and private companies; they must also translate into tangible economic opportunities for Namibians,” He added.
He argued that expanding economic participation would help reduce dependency on government grants while creating opportunities for citizens to establish sustainable businesses and generate employment.
Kangulu’s remarks come as the defence and veterans affairs ministry faces wider financial pressures. Nathinge recently told National Council standing committees that the ministry has a N$161 million deficit under its veterans affairs subsidies budget, which funds IVPs and other grants.
The ministry also reportedly spends an average of N$81 million a month on veterans’ monthly financial grants, further highlighting the significant financial obligations associated with supporting liberation veterans.
The figures have raised questions about the sustainability of the current funding model and whether the government has sufficient resources to meet both its existing commitments and the growing demand for outstanding projects.
For Kangulu, however, the financial constraints should not be used as a reason to delay assistance indefinitely.
He maintained that government has a responsibility to provide clarity to the veterans who remain excluded from the IVP programme and to ensure that the beneficiaries are not left in uncertainty over when they will receive the promised support.
The shadow minister’s intervention places renewed pressure on the ministry to explain how it intends to close the funding gap, clear the backlog and ensure that future veterans’ programmes are adequately financed.
He also linked the veterans’ funding challenge to the broader question of economic inclusion, saying Namibia must find ways to ensure that its natural wealth benefits a wider section of society.
Kangulu maintained that while preserving Namibia’s liberation history remains important, the welfare of living veterans and the economic future of unemployed young people must receive equal attention.
“Our natural resources must create opportunities, dignity and sustainable livelihoods for the people of Namibia,” Kangulu said.
