Government, through the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), has begun elaborating a guide that will help government to support ex-servicemen and war victims prepare for fruitful retirement, integrate them into various communities and support the nation in its economic drive. The policy was put in motion during a four-day seminar, October 27-30, 2015, organized at the headquarters of ex-servicemen in Yaounde where senior military experts brainstormed, made proposals and adopted the guide.
By Anu Nkeze Paul
The over 30 participants made up of colonels from different military detachments and regional battalions brainstormed on the strategies of training, implementation, and follow-up of the guide.
The Secretary of State in charge Ex-servicemen and War Victims at the Ministry of Defence, former governor Koumpa Issa, praised the participants for offering their expertise to build a better retirement life for ex-servicemen and war victims.
The ex-governor reminded participants of the importance of the guide to ex-servicemen and war victims to live happy lives after retirement. He urged them to produce a guide that will become a reference document for government support and orientation for military officers at retirement, and also smoothly integrate them into various communities toward a continuation of normal life.
Koumpa called on those concerned to carefully examine the following in the different working groups: how to happily integrate into the community, accepting retirement without any regrets, taking into consideration various retirement grades, cultural diversity, agro-ecology, the environment and socio-economic landscape of Cameroon.
Prior to the recent seminar, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Defence and Credit Foncier bank to facilitate the building of a retirement home for ex-servicemen and war victims, said Koumpa.
Col. Abba Tongari, Director of Reintegration and Assistance (DRA) at the Department of Ex servicemen and War Victims in Ministry of Defence, said the guide expects the Ministry of Defence to henceforth train soldiers on diverse professions and economic activities and support them financially before their retirement. This is expected to facilitate their integration into the community and make them economically productive to be able to continue supporting the nation. Col. Abba Tongari, however, acknowledged that it is a challenge to source for financial and material resources to support them.
At the closing ceremony, Koumpa promised the implementation of the guide to help realize the objectives of the Department Of Ex-Servicemen and War Victims to improve the wellbeing of all retired military officers.
