Namibian independence war vets threaten to grab land

Former Namibian liberation war combatants camping outside the offices of the Ministry of Veterans' Affairs have threatened to occupy farms by force if government continues to disregard their demands for compensation. The spokesperson of the group, Ruusa Malulu, said on June 6 she was tired of being ignored by government and warned that the former freedom fighters could be mobilized to grab farms, especially those owned by government ministers.

"We were all volunteers during the liberation struggle. Why is it that some people that we volunteered with have fully paid-off farms and we have nothing? Do you want to be ministers for life?" Malulu demanded to know. "We are going to get their farms by force if they are not going to listen to us," said Malulu.

She made her threat shortly after the Minister of Veterans' Affairs and Swapo Secretary-General, Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, informed the protesters that Cabinet had ordered them to leave the city centre to go home because their demands for compensation were unreasonable. He appealed for calm among the group while the ministry studies their demands.

The war veterans have been demanding that government pays the US$80,000 promised to each combatant of Swapo's military wing, the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), during the demobilization process shortly after independence. Alternatively, they are demanding a compensation package of N$32,000 (US$4,500) per person multiplied by the number of years spent in exile, or N$500,000 (US$70,000) per repatriated person.

They have been making their demands since independence and only decided to take action in the form of demonstrations and petitions in more recent years to move government into action. They were furious that Tjiriange had refused to respond to their questions and said they would not move from the open space in the city centre in front of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Veterans' Affairs building until their demands were met.

"We will not go home until we get our money. We would rather die here so that government can take the responsibility of burying us," said Malulu.

New Era