Nathanael Heita
A GROUP of 37 children of the liberation struggle, also known as ‘struggle kids’, have been camping inside the premises of the youth ministry at Ondangwa since February, in what they described as an effort to put pressure on Government to address their concerns.
Group spokesperson Haimbodi Walenga said that they addressed a petition to the relevant authorities and then decided to settle at their current camping spot.
They are demanding preferential treatment from government, including job reservation allegedly promised to them by cabinet many years ago.
Walenga, who was born in the Kwanza-Sul province of Angola 36 years ago, said: “Age is catching up with us and we will soon cease to be ‘youth’, meaning that the youth ministry where we registered in 2008 will no longer want anything to do with us. That is our fear,” he said, adding: “We have children and families, but we are unable to put bread on the table.”
He further said that many in his group have vocational skills and other qualifications, but are struggling in the job market.
“Employers are reluctant to hire us. They tell us that they can’t hire us because we are registered with the youth ministry and can be offered a government job anytime, forcing the employer to go look for someone else,” he said.
He gave several practical examples of ‘struggle kids’ who were employed, but were allegedly expelled as soon as their employers discovered that they were exile kids.
“We are living a hard life and sometimes think that that is because our parents lost their lives in the liberation struggle and we have no one to represent us and make our voices heard,” he said.
When asked about the Namibian Exile Kids Association (NEKA) that represents them, Walenga was dismissive.
He said that, initially, they were NEKA members but ceased to be members after discovering that the association was not serious about solving problems and allegedly could not account for monies contributed by members.
He said that his group is still awaiting for a response from the Swapo party secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa who recently promised them speedy feedback from the Cabinet.
The group appreciated regional governor Elia Irimari’s empathy after he visited them and promised to make opportunities available for them in the region.
He also gave them food parcels. The group also received food parcels from Namib Mills.
