Windhoek: The Association of Dependants of Namibia's Veterans staged a demonstration at the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs offices in Windhoek on Tuesday, demanding an official response to a petition submitted three months ago.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the petition calls for the implementation of legislative amendments that would grant dependants of both living and deceased veterans access to benefits similar to those currently afforded to recognised veterans. The association's Secretary-General Petrus Nendongo, who read the petition addressed to Defence and Veterans Affairs Minister Frans Kapofi, said members have been gathering since Monday to seek answers on correspondence repeatedly sent to the ministry.
'We are here today seeking satisfactory responses to our petition which was submitted on 29 August 2025 concerning the slow implementation of recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs,' Nendongo stated.
Receipt of the petition was acknowledged by the ministry's former Deputy Executive Director, Tadeus Elago, who reportedly promised a written response within 14 working days. 'On 19 September 2025, the ministry invited representatives of the association to a meeting. During this engagement, Deputy Minister Charles Mubita said he was in possession of a draft response, but that it remained unsigned by Minister Kapofi,' Nendongo added.
On 06 October 2025, the association delivered a reminder letter to the Department of Veterans' Affairs but was asked to allow additional time for the minister to prepare the letter. 'It has now been three months that we have been waiting for a formal response, and we have observed continued disregard and unfulfilled commitments from the ministry,' Nendongo said.
He further expressed that the ministry's delays have led the association to lose trust and left them with no choice but to take action. 'We are not going anywhere until Minister Frans Kapofi comes to us with a satisfactory answer,' Nendongo concluded. Efforts to obtain a response from the ministry were unsuccessful.