Government Must Account for the N$1.9 Billion Veterans' Backlog
The revelation that N$1.9 billion is required to settle outstanding Individual Veterans Projects (IVPs) for approximately 11,000 liberation veterans highlights a concerning administrative failure. Out of 26,000 registered veterans, only 15,000 have received their allocated IVP grant, leaving thousands of elderly and economically vulnerable Namibians without support.
The IPC calls on the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs to table a clear, time-bound funding plan in Parliament outlining precisely how and when this backlog will be cleared. Government must explain why such a massive deficit was allowed to accumulate over time.
Furthermore, our national wealth must benefit all vulnerable citizens. As new mining, resource, and energy projects open across Namibia, transparent mechanisms must be established to deliver tangible opportunities in fisheries, agriculture, public procurement, and local enterprise for veterans, unemployed youth, and local communities alike.
While preserving our history is vital, securing sustainable livelihoods for living veterans and unemployed young people requires equal urgency.
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