War veterans demand audience with Swapo SG

By: Ludorf Iyambo

A group of about 200 Namibian Refugees repatriated in 1989 have threatened to sleep at the Swapo Headquarters until the party’s secretary General Sofia Shaningwa receives their petition.

This comes after a group of senior citizens from different regions gathered at Swapo headquarters in Windhoek on Wednesday to hand over their petition.

Prior to the protest, the group had written a letter to Shaningwa informing her of their intentions to submit the petition. In her response, Shaningwa advised the group to direct their concerns to the ministry of defence and veterans’ affairs, as they handle such matters.

The group warned the government should not get involved because this is a Swapo issue.

“We do not want anything from the government. We want answers from Swapo because it is Swapo who repatriated us from exile,” said Dolpha Shilunga.

The petition highlights concern over unfulfilled promises made to returnees before independence, including issues of land resettlement, compensation, and access to funds.

The group said there is land allocated for veterans’ resettlement programe , known as Queen Sofia farm at Outjo in Kunene Region and King Kauluma in Oshikoto Region. They questioned who is resettled on that land.

The group had written a letter to Shaningwa about their planned protest, to which she responded that the government has a designated department, Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs- where they should direct their concerns.