Government has introduced two bills to address the issue of war veterans. This follows a countrywide demonstration early this month by the veterans of the liberation war that brought independence in 1990.
The bills, which have been approved by Cabinet, are the Veterans Bill of 2007 and the Veterans Association Bill of 2007.

Ex-combatants under the leadership of Alex Kamwi and Ruusa Malulu camped at the offices of the Ministy of Justice for almost three days before they resolved to go back to their houses. They have been demanding compensation in cash, farms and fishing quotas.
According to a statement from Cabinet chambers, with the two new bills goes the War Veterans Subvention Act of 1999.
“The establishment of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs necessitated the repeal of the War Veterans Subvention Act and the enactment of updated legislation to cater for the welfare of veterans and their dependants and other incidental matters,” said the statement.
The Veterans Association Bill provides for the establishment of a veterans association for Namibia, a provision which was lacking under the old legislation. The committee of ex-combatants has on numerous occasions been informed of its lack of credibility because it is not registered as such.
With the new bill they can now register with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs. The bill also provides for the management, the power and functions of such an association, and defines the powers of the Minister of Veterans Affairs.