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Govt concerned with ex-soldiers’ welfare
By
Our Reporter - 18-06-2002 |
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Government says it appreciates concerns that war veterans in the country get very little money for their welfare, Environmental Affairs Minister Harry Thomson told Parlia-ment on Thursday.
Speaking on behalf of defence minister, Thomson, who is also leader in the House, said there is no pension scheme for the war veterans because Kings African Rifles (KAR) engaged them on contract basis.
He said the war veterans got their gratuity at the end of their contractual period which ranged from one to six years.
Thomson was responding to a question from Mzimba Central Parliamentarian Barnet Mtonga (Aford) who wanted to know why the soldiers were not getting their pension.
“Mr. Speaker, Sir, this august house may wish to know that what is mistakenly called pension is not pension as such but well wishers’ kind gesture. This started at the end of World War II when a league called Commonwealth Ex-service League was formed to contribute to the welfare of ex-combatants and maintenance of war monuments including graves,” Thomson explained.
Commonwealth Ex-service League of Malawi (Celom) is an affiliate of the world body and the two organisations, which fundraise money through a number of activities including sale of poppies, are responsible for the welfare of the war veterans.
According to Thomson, war veterans resident at the barracks receive K50 per month while those staying in their villages get K250 per month.
He also told the house that the league could increase the money for the war veterans only if it got more contributions from well-wishers.
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