Maria David<\/p>\n
THE Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs has utilizes 93% of its budget allocation for the financial year 2022\/23.
\nThis was revealed by deputy Minister Hilma Nicanor during a presentation in which she requested the approval of about N$1.2 billion budget allocation for the Veterans Affairs for the financial year 2023\/2024.<\/p>\n
Nicanor said that during the financial year 2022\/23 the Veterans Affairs was allocated funds to carry out programmes and projects of which 93% of the allocated budget was utilized on activities mainly aimed at veterans\u2019 welfare programmes and on keeping the history of the liberation struggle alive.<\/p>\n
She pointed out that the biggest portion went towards the payment of monthly grants to the veterans.
\nHowever, Nicanor said other activities such as the payment of once-off gratuity; individual veteran projects; funeral assistance; erection of tombstones; medical assistance; counselling, and research documentation of the history of the national liberation struggle were also funded.<\/p>\n
“The monthly payout is not fixed but keeps increasing every month as more veterans leave active employment due to various reasons such as retirement, medical boarding, retrenchment and other factors,” she said.
\nAccording to her, one of the biggest challenges the Ministry faces, is the payment of the individual veterans projects that started in 2011 and could not be concluded due to budgetary constraints.<\/p>\n
In December 2021, Cabinet resolved to change the mode of payment of individual veterans\u2019 projects (IVPs) from funding of business proposals to cash payment mode capped at N$170 000.<\/p>\n
“The cash payment has brought about a positive change in the lives of the beneficiaries as some have used the money to renovate their dwellings,” she added.<\/p>\n
She indicated that since the commencement of the cash payment of N$170,000, the Ministry has paid 559 veterans.
\nAlthough the Ministry has thus far paid 11 035 IVPs, there is still a huge backlog of 11 125 unfunded IVPs which is likely to increase due to the fact that veterans who did not apply previously are starting to apply for IVPs.<\/p>\n
She emphasized that the Ministry will strive to continue utilizing the available resources in improving the socio economic status of the veterans and those still to be recognized through already established Veterans Board and Veterans Appeal Board.<\/p>\n
Further, Nicanor stressed that the Ministry will continue to promote and implement projects and programmes aimed at improving the socio-economic wellbeing of the veterans, including keeping and preserving the history of the national liberation struggle for future generations.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, an Exhumation Committee has been established to oversee the exhumation and re-interment of the remains of the martyrs of the liberation struggle at designated National Shrines or burial sites.
\nNicanor also revealed that the Cassinga Shrine project is completed and that it will be inaugurated this year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Maria David THE Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs has utilizes 93% of its budget allocation for the financial year 2022\/23. This was revealed by deputy Minister Hilma Nicanor during a presentation in which she requested the approval of about N$1.2 billion budget allocation for the Veterans Affairs for the financial year 2023\/2024. Nicanor said …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":336755,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-336750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n