Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698147453944.pdf (Namibia)
Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs VOTE 31 ESTIMATE OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2023-2024 01 April 2023 - 31 March 2024 01 April 2023 - 31 March 2024 “Year of Revival” H.E.

Hage Geingob - President of the Republic of Namibia and Command-In-Chief of the Namibian Defence Force | 31st December 2022 New Year Message.

“Economic Revival and Caring for the Poor”.

Hon.


Ipumbu Shiimi - Minister of Finance| National Budget | Parliament 2 3 STATEMENT OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR VOTE 31 (VETERANS AFFAIRS) FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2023/2024 BY HONOURABLE FRANS KAPOFI, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND VETERANS AFFAIRS 29 March 2023 Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee Honourable Members 1.
It is my honour once again to present to this August House, the budget allocation for a different component of the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs which is Vote 31 for the 2023/2024 financial year which deliberate on issues relating to veterans of the national liberation struggle.

2.

Although, not all the projects and programmes could receive budget allocation as anticipated due to various economic reasons such as the aftermath of COVID-19 Pandemic, flood and others, allow me to applaud Hon.
Iipumbu Shiimi, Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Hon Obeth Kandjoze, Director General of National Planning Commission as well as their dedicated teams for considering the various challenges faced by the veterans in making budgetary allocation to address activities of veterans.

Honorable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee Honourable Members 3.
We cannot stop emphasising that the freedom and independence that we are all enjoying today in our country is due to the immense contributions made by the gallant sons and daughters of the soil during the liberation struggle of our motherland.

2 3 Our veterans who participated in the liberation struggle at home and in exile are courageous as they cope with frightening memories that awaken them at night.
They have lost companions and brothers in undesirable ways whilst those from exile came home to a different world than they knew.

For instance, some veterans had to adjust to disabilities that were physical, mental and emotional.

During the war, they faced numerous hardships but their hope never dissipated.

Therefore, it remains the government’s responsibility to uplift the wellbeing of veterans, majority of whom sacrificed their youthful years for us to enjoy freedom, peace, tranquillity and democracy.
4 5 Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee Honourable Members 4.

During 2022/ 2023 Financial Year, Vote 31 for Veterans Affairs was allocated funds to carry out budgeted programmes and projects, of which 93% of the allocated budget was utilized on activities mainly aimed at veterans’ welfare programmes and keeping the history of the liberation struggle alive.
At this point, allow me to highlight that, the highest cost driver in the budget allocated to Vote 31 was towards the payment of monthly grants to the veterans.

However, other activities such as: Once off Gratuity, Individual Veteran Projects (IVPs), Funeral Assistance, Erection of Tombstones, Medical Assistance, Counselling, Research Documentation of the history of the National Liberation Struggle were also funded.
4 5 The monthly payout is not fixed but keeps increasing every month as veterans leaves active employment due to various reasons such as retirement, medical boarding, retrenchment and other factors.

The Accountability Report for 2021/22 Financial Year, the Summary of the Veterans Budget Execution for the Financial Year 2023/24 have been presented during the Mid-Term Budget Review for the 2022/2023 Finacial Year by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises.
The Estimates of Income and Expenditure for the 2023/2024- 2025/2026 Medium Expenditure Framework is attached hereto as APPENDIX 1 for Honourable Members’ scrutiny and Consideration.

5.

One of the biggest challenge that the Ministry faced is payment of the Individual Veterans Projects (IVPs) that started in 2011 and could not be concluded due to budgetary constraints.

6 7 6.
6 7 6.

In December 2021, Cabinet resolved to change the mode of payment of individual veterans’ projects from funding of business proposals to cash payment mode capped at One Hundred and Seventy Thousand Namibia Dollars (N$170,000) 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.

Since the commencement of the cash payment of N$170,000, the Ministry has paid 559 veterans.
Although the Ministry has thus far paid out Eleven Thousand and Thirty-Five (11,035) IVPs, there is still a huge backlog of Eleven Thousand One Hundred and Twenty-Five (11,125) unfunded IVPs which number is likely to increase due to the fact that veterans who did not apply are starting to apply for IVPs.

Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee Honourable Members 7.
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 6 7 to veterans; and and Veterans Appeal Board; preserve and keep the history of the national liberation struggle alive for the present and future generations; continuously monitor and evaluate socio-economic services provided improve organizational performance to ensure service delivery to the veterans.
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.

8 9 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.
In addition to the above, I wish to inform this august house that the Cassinga Shrine project is completed and that it will be inaugurated this year and you will be invited to the inauguration in due course.

8.
8.

As I conclude, it is needless to mention that the contributions and sacrifices made by the gallant sons and daughters of this soil can never be equated to any fiscal value, therefore the least we can do as a Government and as a people in the Namibian House is to express our appreciation for our independence and peace.
It is therefore, my honour to request you Honourable Members to support and approve the budget allocation of One Billion One Hundred and Seventy-Four Million One Hundred and Sixty- One Thousand Namibia Dollars (N$1,174,161,000) for Vote 31: Veterans Affairs for the Financial Year 2023/ 2024.

I thank you!

8 9 Accounting Officer : The Executive Director Vote 31 Veterans Affairs APPENDIX 1 EXPENDITURE 001 Remuneration 002 Employers Contribution to the G.I.P.F.

and M.P.O.O.B.P.F.
and M.P.O.O.B.P.F.

003 Other Conditions of Service 004 Improvement of Remuneration Structure 005 Emplouers Contribution to the Social Security 010 PERSONNEL EXPENDITURE-SUBTOTAL 021 Travel and Subsistence Allowance 022 Materials and Supplies 023 Transport 024 Utilities 025 Maintenance Expenses 026 Property Rental and Related Charges 027 Other Services and Expenses 030 GOODS AND OTHER SERVICES-SUBTOTAL REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA Actual Rev.
Estimate Estimate Estimate Estimate 2021/2022 2022/2023 2023/2024 2024/2025 2025/ Government Organizations 080 SUBSIDIES & OTHER CURRENT TRANSFERS-SUBTOTAL 824,622,374 824,622,374 963,183,000 963,183,000 1,103,938,000 1,103,938,000 1,112,102,000 1,112,102,000 1,137,087,160 1,137,087,160 100 TOTAL CURRENT EXPENDITURE [010+030+080+090] 883,220,294 1,027,743,000 1,167,961,000 1,179,351,000 1,205,813,960 101 Furniture and Office Equipment 102 Vehicles 103 Operational Equipment, Machinery and Plants 110 ACQUISITION OF CAPITAL ASSETS-SUBTOTAL 130 CAPITAL TRANSFERS-SUBTOTAL [121+122+123+124] 238,763 1,410,000 700,000 1,150,000 580,000 238,763 1,410,000 700,000 1,150,000 580,000 160 TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURE [110+130] 238,763 1,410,000 700,000 1,150,000 580,000 180 TOTAL LENDING AND EQUITY PARTICIPATION 300 GRAND TOTAL-OPERATIONAL [100+160+180+210+220] 883,459,058 1,029,153,000 1,168,661,000 1,180,501,000 1,206,393,960 117 Construction, Renovation and Improvement 120 ACQUISITION OF CAPITAL ASSETS - SUBTOTAL 4,864,386 4,864,386 3,000,000 3,000,000 5,500,000 5,500,000 7,000,000 7,000,000 8,500,000 8,500,000 150 CAPITAL TRANSFERS - SUBTOTAL 170 TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURE [120+150] 4,864,386 3,000,000 5,500,000 7,000,000 8,500,000 200 TOTAL - DEVELOPMENT [020+040+170+190] 4,864,386 3,000,000 5,500,000 7,000,000 8,500,000 400 GRAND TOTAL [200+300]
 888,323,443 1,032,153,000 1,174,161,000 1,187,501,000 1,214,893,960 10 11 Break down of Government Organizations (043): Budget Allocation for veteran’s activities during the 2023/24 financial year **Government Organizations (Veterans Fund Activities) Annual Grant to Veterans Association Veterans Appeal Board Conferment of National Honors Construction of veterans Houses Heritage and Exhumation Education and Training Grant Erection of tombstones Funeral assistance of deceased veterans Identification and marking of heritage sites Identification and Registration Veterans Improvement of Welfare for Ex-Plan Combatant Individual Veterans Projects (IVPs) Medical Assistance & Counselling Payment of Once-Off gratuity (Lumpsum) Research and Documentation Subvention Grant Veterans Board Activities Veterans Resettlement Programme Administrative Expenses (bank charges) Total Government Organizations N$ 1,000,000 600,000 250,000 - 1,000,000 25,000 9,600,000 5,000,000 1,000,000 100,000 416,951,200 113,040,000 800,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 547,101,800 500,000 1,000,000 2,970,000 1,103,938,000 10 11 12 13 12 13 14 15 VISION The Ministry of Defence aims at developing a small, well trained, highly mobile, professional and well equipped force, ready to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Namibia and actively contribute to international peace and stability.
MISSION The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs shall be an efficient, effective and accountable Government institution responsible for formulating policies and programmes on defence for the government.

It will continue to execute government decisions on defence issues in a timely and cost effective manner.

Furthermore, it will continue to procure equipment for the Namibian Defence Force.
CORE VALUES Integrity • Patriotism and Dedication • Respect for Rule of Law • • Transparent and Accountability • Professionalism • Teamwork and Cooperation 14 15 Design & Layout by: Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs Public Relations Division Windhoek