Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698752368710.pdf (Namibia)
REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA STATEMENT BY HON.

FRANS KAPOFI ON THE OCASSION OF THE INTRODUCTION OF VOTE 31 (VETERANS AFFAIRS) FOR THE 2017/2018 FINANCIAL YEAR 19 APRIL 2017 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY *Check Against Delivery.

Honorable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee, Honorable Members It is a great honour to introduce the budget proposal of Vote 31 : Veterans Affairs for 2017/18 Financial Year to this August House.
As I mentioned during the last budget presentation, the Veterans Affairs portfolio has been placed under the Presidency to ensure that it enjoys prominence for the benefit of our Veterans who dedicated their youthful and energetic years to the struggle for freedom and independence of our motherland.

During the past Financial Year, several milestones were recorded and achievements were indeed many.
We look forward to achieving greater success with the resources to be provided for the 2017/2018 Financial Year.

Honorable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee Honorable Members For the 2017/2018 Financial Year, Veterans Affairs will implement activities under three (3) programmes, namely: o 1.

Veterans Welfare Development; 02.

Liberation Struggle Heritage; and 03.


Coordination and Support Services PROGRAMME 1: VETERANS WELFARE PROGRAMME The main objective of this programme is to coordinate the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities aimed at improving the welfare of veterans.
2 Thefollowing activities fall under this programme: Sub-Programme 01: Monthly Subvention: It is anticipated that the total number of veterans will increase to seventeen thousand five hundred (17,500) as more retiring veterans become eligible to receive monthly subvention in 2017/2018.

For this, an amount of four hundred and ten million, nine hundred and five thousand Namibia Dollars (N$410,905,000) is requested.
Sub-Programme 02: Education and Skills Training Grant An amount of Nine million three hundred and seventy two thousand Namibia Dollar (N$9,372,000) is requested to support 374 veterans and their dependants who wish to further their studies or obtain vocational skills.

As the saying goes, you are never too old to study.

Sub-Programme 03: Funeral Assistance To accord Veterans with a dignified and befitting burial, an amount of Three million Namibia Dollar (N$3,000,000) is requested.
Sub-Programme 04: Payment of Lump Sum An amount of Fifty million Namibia Dollars (N$50,000,000) is requested to cater for the payment of once-off gratuity.

Sub-Programme 05: Identification and Registration of veterans 3 This activity aims at registering veterans and their dependents in order to produce national veterans' register as well as issuance of veterans' identification cards.
A total amount of Three million one hundred and sixty three thousand Namibian Dollar (N$3,163,000) is requested to cover this activity.

Sub-Programme 06: Construction of Veterans Houses An amount of Four million Five hundred thousand Namibia Dollar (N$4,500,OOO)is requested for this activity.

Sub-Programme 07: Individual Veterans Projects (lVPs) Veteran Affairs through its regional offices, provides technical assistance to Veterans with regard to applications for IVPs.
An amount of One hundred and twenty eight million and eighty one thousand Namibia Dollars (N$128,081,000) is requested to cater for this activity.
Sub-Programme 8: Development Planning/Projects Management Programme A total amount of Eleven million Eight Hundred and Eighty Thousand Namibia Dollars (N$11,880,000) is earmarked for the Capital projects below: 8.1) Construction of Veterans Regional Offices (Nine million Namibia Dollars (N$9,OOO,000)) 4 8.2) Veterans Recreational Facilities (Two Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty Thousand Namibia Dollars (N$2,880,000)) Sub-Programme 9: Medical Assistance & Counselling This activity will cater for veterans in need of medical assistance.
An amount of Three million Namibia Dollars (N$3,000,000) is requested.

Sub-Programme 10: Veterans Board The Veterans Board administers the Veterans' Fund.

An amount of Two million Namibia Dollars (N$2,000,000) for this purpose.

Sub-Programme 11: Veterans Appeal Board Veterans Appeal Board hears appeals emanating from the decisions or actions of the Veterans Board.

This activity requires an amount of Two million Namibia Dollars (N$2,000,000).
Sub-Programme 12: Conferment of National Honors and Awards An amount of Five Hundred Thousand Namibia Dollars (N$500,000) is required to cater for the activities of the National Honors Advisory Committee on the Conferment of National Honors and Awards to carry out its functions.
Sub-Programme 13: Star Protection Services 5 For this activity, Veterans Affairs is requesting an amount of Five Hundred Thousand Namibia Dollars (N$500,OOO),which will be used on property development projects in order to generate income for Veterans Fund.
Sub-Programme 14: Welfare Improvement Grant An amount of One Hundred and Ninety Four million Eight Hundred and Ninety Six Thousand Namibia Dollar (N$194,896,OOO)is requested to cater for the welfare improvement of the Ex-PLAN combatant veterans, Robben Island and other political prisoners who are unemployed, retired and disabled.

Sub-Programme 15: Veterans Association Grant The Veterans Association receives an annual grant as stipulated on the Veterans Act.
An amount of One million Namibia Dollars (N$I,OOO,OOO)is requested for this activity.

In total, the Veterans Welfare Program requires an amount of Eight Hundred and Twenty Six million, Seven Hundred and Ninety seven thousand Namibian Dollars (N$826,797,OOO)to carry out its activities.

Honorable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee Honorable Members PROGRAMME 2.
LIBERATION STRUGGLE HERITAGE 6 The main objective of this programme is to ensure that the history of the liberation struggle is preserved and kept alive.

This is done through research and documentation, collection and preservation of materials or artefacts, the identification and marking of sites where acts of the liberation struggle took place, establishment of outdoor museums and the erection of monuments.

Under this Programme, will be implemented six (6) activities: 1).
Identification and marking of sites An amount of Three hundred thousand Namibia Dollar (N$300,OOO)is required for this activity.

2).

Erection of Monuments and establishment of Outdoor Museums An amount of Three Million Namibian Dollars (N$3,OOO,OOO)is requested.

3).

Acquisition and preservation of historical materials and artefacts.

an amount of Five hundred Namibian Dollar (N$SOO,OOO)is requested.

4).
4).

Development Project for Heritage: This activity involves the implementation of activities that entails the following: • Repatriation and internment of the remains of SWAPO leaders and Robben Island political prisoners who died during the national liberation struggle; • construction, preservation and maintenance of historical sites where acts 7 of liberation struggle took place in neighboring countries; • Erection of memorial monuments in Angola and Zambia.
An amount of One million Namibian Dollars (N$l,OOO,OOO)is requested for this activity.

~.

Research and documentation This activity is aimed at researching and documenting the history of the liberation struggle.

The University of Namibia has been contracted to assist in research and documenting these activities.

Hence, an amount of Six million Namibian Dollars (N$6,OOO,OOO)is requested.

6).
6).

Erection of tombstones: This activity entails the provision of tombstones on the graves of deceased veterans and fallen heroes and heroines.

An amount of Three million Namibian Dollars (N$3,OOO,OOO)is required in order for this activity.

In total, the Liberation Struggle Heritage Program requires an amount of Thirteen million eight hundred thousand Namibian Dollars (N$13,800,OOO)to carry out its activities.

8 PROGRAMME 3.
8 PROGRAMME 3.

COORDINATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES This programme involves policy supervision, general administration, internal audit function, and IT Management.

It also entails regular policy guidance and coordination of Veterans Affairs' activities at all levels of the institution.

This Programme requires an amount of Eighty million Seven Hundred and Fifty two thousand Namibian Dollars (N$80,752,OOO).
Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee, Honourable Members, I wish to reiterate that Government has committed itself to addressing the plight of the veterans.

The programmes I have outlined are aimed at making a difference in the lives of our veterans and their families.

I appeal for your solid support for Vote 31- Veterans Affairs.
It is now my pleasure to table for consideration and approval, the 2017/21018 budget request for Vote 31, in the amount of Nine Hundred and Twenty One Million Three Hundred and Forty Nine Thousand Namibian Dollars (N$921,349,OOO).

I thank you.

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