Adolf Kaure
A meeting between government representatives and the Former Refugees Repatriation Association of Namibia (FRRAN) yesterday ended in a cul-de-sac, with parties failing to find common ground.
The meeting was held to provide clarity on the correspondence written between the government and the United Nations (UN) resident coordinators over the years about the financial demands of the 1989 exile liberation veterans and former refugees.
According to yesterday’s events, the officials in the ministry tried to trace the letter but without success.
During an earlier meeting between Swapo, the United Nations resident representatives and the returnees held outside the Swapo Party national headquarters on Saturday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representative, Kavita Belani, said that there were no post-repatriation funds earmarked by UNHCR to be undistributed or available for any claim now.
She also maintained that any basic assistance support provided at that time was provided through donor funds, was fully accounted for and the case is closed, meaning their demands are no longer mandated under the United Nations but by the country of origin.
At the same meeting, Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa stated that all the returnees, all the questions, queries and comments posed by the former exiled veterans and refugees were satisfactorily answered and exhaustively addressed, both by the Swapo and the two representatives of the UN.
They have been camping at the Swapo Party national headquarters since 2025 demanding answers for their grievances and remained there.
The group of protesters camping outside Swapo’s national headquarters in Windhoek also refused to vacate the premises, despite a missive by Shaningwa. They were supposed to leave the premises by Tuesday morning.
This follows talks involving senior officials from the UN regarding funds for the repatriation process from exile.
Furthermore, FRRAN said it will take its demands to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah following an inconclusive meeting with Swapo Party officials and UN representatives.
Their grievances centre on the 1989 repatriation of Namibians who lived in exile during the liberation struggle.
The group claims the UN provided funds to Swapo to compensate returnees for resettlement and rehabilitation and is demanding that the alleged funds be paid to them, 36 years after independence.
However, Shaningwa said Swapo’s financial records contain no evidence of such funds. She noted that a thorough review of party records since her first election as secretary general in 2017 and her re-election in 2022 did not support the claims.
“In the spirit of transparency and fairness, we have therefore engaged the UN directly to provide authoritative insight,” she said.
Belani reiterated that the UN had fulfilled its mandate regarding the return of Namibian refugees. She said UNHCR’s role in 1989 was limited to voluntary repatriation, including transport and basic assistance such as food rations.
She dismissed claims that resettlement and rehabilitation components under UN Security Council Resolution 435 of 1978 were left unimplemented, saying all donor funds were fully utilised and accounted for.
“There is no difference in the assistance provided to Namibia compared to other countries where repatriation was supported,” Belani said, adding that rehabilitation and resettlement are the responsibility of the government of the country of origin.
Despite the explanations, members of the FRRAN expressed dissatisfaction and vowed to continue their demonstration at the Swapo headquarters.
FRRAN president Mateus Nangolo said the group would seek an audience with Nandi-Ndaitwah, and a meeting is expected next month.
He said many returnees continue to suffer due to inadequate rehabilitation and housing, and that the group also plans to send representatives to Geneva for a meeting at the UNHCR headquarters.
– akaure@nepc.com.na
-Nampa
Photo: Heather Erdmann
