Namibia: Children Born to Liberation Fighters in Exile Demand Inclusion

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs has made a recommendation. They want the Ministry of Defence and Veterans' Affairs to work with the Ministry of Justice. Their goal is to amend the Veterans Act. This amendment would include all children born in exile.

The proposed change aims to extend benefits to dependents and children of war veterans over 18. This is especially important for those who joined the liberation struggle as minors. The recommendation follows a petition from the Association of the Dependents of Namibia's Veterans (AODNDV). They urged lawmakers to review Part 1, Section 1(a) of the Act, which defines a "child of a veteran."

Children of liberation fighters feel excluded from government support since 2008. The current definition limits a veteran's child to those under 18 years old. Many who were minors at independence are now adults but do not qualify for support.

Committee chairperson Kletus Karondo explained this issue in the National Assembly last week. He noted that many children were born in exile during the war. Now, they face socio-economic challenges without State support.

Karondo emphasized that this amendment is crucial for addressing ongoing hardships faced by these children and dependents. Many lost one or both parents during Namibia's fight for independence. He pointed out that excluding those over 18 has created a group known as "struggle kids." They have consistently raised their concerns with the government.

In this financial year, the Ministry of Defence and Veterans' Affairs received N$5.4 billion. Of this amount, N$6.5 million is specifically for veterans' affairs. Planned activities include building a guardhouse for Zambezi regional office and a storeroom for Kavango East regional office.

Other projects include the Etaka Agricultural Project in Onesi and constructing a boundary wall at Okaongobati Heritage Site. There will also be tombstones erected at cemeteries for Namibian freedom fighters in Nyango, Zambia.