Allexer Namundjembo
Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Frans Kapofi, has rejected suggestions that veterans currently camped outside the Swapo Party headquarters are at odds with the government, saying they continue to receive all benefits and support due to them despite their ongoing protest.
Kapofi made the remarks in the National Assembly following concerns raised by Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) Member of Parliament Alosius Kangulu, who questioned the government’s engagement with the group as they continue living in tents during the cold winter season.
Addressing the minister, Kangulu praised Kapofi’s leadership but questioned why he had not personally engaged with the veterans.
“You truly demonstrate leadership that is required. But why are you failing to get yourself behind that building? And to speak to those people of yours?” Kangulu asked.
The veterans, many of whom are former liberation struggle fighters, have been camped outside the ruling party’s headquarters for months, drawing increasing public attention amid deteriorating weather conditions.
Responding to Kangulu, Kapofi said the veterans themselves had consistently maintained that their concerns were not directed at the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs or the government.
“Those colleagues, compatriots, many of whom shared the hardship in exile, are there,” Kapofi told Parliament.
He said the group had repeatedly clarified its position regarding its relationship with the government.
“They are there, and they have stated very clearly that they are there, but they have clearly made it open that their fight is not with the veteran ministry or any of the GRN. They have said it very clearly,” he said.
Kapofi stressed that the government’s obligations towards the veterans have not changed and that their decision to remain camped outside Swapo headquarters has not affected the support they receive.
“So, and as far as our commitment to them is concerned, they continue to receive what they are entitled to, all of them,” he said.
“Nothing is deprived of them because they are there.”
The minister further indicated that efforts had been made to engage with the group, revealing that the matter had also been addressed by the ruling party’s leadership.
“Our secretary general spoke to them,” Kapofi said.
His comments came in response to concerns over the welfare of the veterans, who remain exposed to harsh winter conditions while residing in temporary shelters outside the party headquarters.
The issue continues to attract political and public attention, with questions being raised about the circumstances that have led the veterans to maintain their presence at the site despite ongoing engagement and government support.
A group of Namibian war veterans and former refugees repatriated in 1989 have been camping outside the ruling Swapo party headquarters in Windhoek since late 2025.
The prolonged demonstration stems from decades-old grievances regarding financial compensation and socio-economic reintegration.
The protesters, who have erected temporary structures along the headquarters, are vowing to remain until the government and party leadership address their demands directly.
At the core of the dispute is a claim that N$21.7 million was allocated by the United Nations to Swapo during the 1989 repatriation process to assist returnees.
The veterans allege these funds were never disbursed to the intended beneficiaries. Beyond the disputed UN funds, the group is demanding formal land resettlement, state pension benefits, and direct financial support, arguing that they have been neglected since Namibia achieved independence in 1990.
Swapo leadership has repeatedly denied the allegations, stating that the party never received or withheld any UN money meant for returnees.
In an effort to resolve the impasse, Swapo officials and UN representatives held joint engagements with the veterans to clarify the historical funding structure.
However, these explanations failed to satisfy the demonstrators, leading to a deepened stalemate and a continuation of the camp-in.
The standoff eventually moved into the legal and political spheres. Swapo filed an urgent application with the High Court to evict the protesters from the vicinity of its headquarters, but the court struck the application from the roll, allowing the veterans to stay.
Politically, the situation drew direct intervention from President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who visited the campsite to listen to the grievances.
Despite these high-level discussions, the veterans continue to camp on-site, braving harsh weather conditions and demanding concrete resolutions.
