Fatshimetrie
The veterans of Likasi, Kipushi and Lubumbashi, in the province of Haut-Katanga, are currently in a delicate situation. Indeed, these men who fought for causes that seemed just to them find themselves today unpaid for three long months. In a memorandum sent to Fatshimetrie, these veterans express their discontent and demand not only the payment of their pension, but also their final settlement.
Faced with this worrying situation, the veterans express their dismay at the meagerness of their current pension, which stands at between 7,000 and 12,000 Congolese francs per month. For these valiant veterans, this sum is far from reflecting the reality of the cost of living in Lubumbashi. “We veterans, since the time of the Belgians in 1959, we are asking for our final settlement and the payment of the three months of unpaid pension. Our meager monthly pensions are not enough to meet our needs in this city of Lubumbashi. We have already paid our dues in other provinces, but here, at home, we are faced with this unacceptable situation,” laments one of the veterans interviewed by Fatshimetrie.
The situation of veterans raises important questions about the recognition and consideration of veterans who have served their country with bravery. These men, who have made countless sacrifices to defend ideals they believed in, deserve more dignified and respectful treatment from the authorities. By appealing to the Minister of National Defense and Veterans Affairs, the veterans hope to see their situation reviewed and improved in order to receive what is due to them.
It is imperative that the authorities take note of this precarious situation of veterans and act quickly to remedy this injustice. It is a matter of recognizing their commitment, their dedication and their contribution to the history of the nation. Veterans are only demanding what is rightfully theirs, a decent pension and the payment of the months of pension in arrears. It is high time that these veterans are treated with the respect and consideration they deserve, in recognition of their sacrifice for the good of all.