Defining The ‘Struggle Kids’
PLEASE allow me an opportunity to clarify certain misunderstanding about the apparent ‘children of the struggle’, as was alluded by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture Dr P Shipoh, that there are about 9 000 plus children of the struggle in this country and less then 300 hundred of those are at Berg Aukas.
They are many categories of the ‘children of the struggle’, (they have the Congo group, the Cuban group, the Germany group, Nyango and Kwanza group). I argue that the children of 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989 era are no different from those born in an independent Namibia, hence I see no need for them to march all across the country.
Children that have returned to this country at the age of 3-4 years and younger have been brought up and cultured by the Namibian system. Their claims to exile by virtue of birth are relevant but hold no water as they cannot relate with any of the activities that were taking place at that time.
Their experiences would be the same as that of those who were born in Namibia and in a family support unit that allowed them to grow up within a well coordinated and disciplined system. With that being the case, I fail to understand some of these kids fighting to associate themselves with background of which they have no understanding. NEKA as an organisation that represents the children of the struggle should embark upon researching, documenting and filming history of the liberation struggle through the eyes of the children of the war that grow up or raised in exile.
NEKA’s focus should be on experiences of children who lived there in the 70’s and those born there up to 1985. These are the likes of Ndunge Max, Alleta Kanandjebo Martin Ndamekele, Hamukoto Pohamba, Ndeshi Pineus, Ndeyapo Shilume, Selma Shingenge Penda ya Otto, Morgen Mwiinga etc.
The above-mentioned are the children of the struggle. Why might you ask – because, they are able to give a narration of events from Dalatando, Kwansa Sul, Nyango, Congo.etc.
These are the veterans of the children of the struggle. So NEKA need to stops focussing on retrogressive project that do not produce reward for its paid up members. Neka should organise visits to historical places such as Dalatando, Kwansa Sul, Nyango and other places in order to make Namibian youth appreciate and understand the history of the national liberation struggle waged by Swapo. NEKA should promote the positive values of hard work and respect the sacrifice made by those who fought to liberate the country.
In that manner, NEKA it should therefore be in the forefront to protect and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Namibia as well as inculcating amongst Namibian youth the values of nationalism, inclusion, national unity, reconciliation, social justice, equity, patriotism, economic emancipation and fight the scourge of unemployment, HIV-AIDS, ignorance, underdevelopment, drug and alcohol abuse, tribalism among the youth.
Benitha Nakaambo
Via e-mail
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