‘Children of the Struggle’ outline their problems

POOR communication. Ignorance. Poor sanitation and health.
These are just a handful of the issues outlined by some of the leaders of the demonstrating Children of the Liberation Struggle, many of whom are still camping at Swapo headquarters in different parts of the country.

‘Struggle kids’ from leadership structures in the Oshana, Caprivi, Kavango, Otjozondjupa and Khomas regions met with executive members of the Namibian Exile Kids Association (Neka) in Windhoek last week for a two-day meeting, where they told the association about the various problems they face on a daily basis at their respective sites.Neka describes itself as ‘an organisation that represents the needs and aspirations of ALL the children born by those who waged the national struggle for the total independence of Namibia’.According to the association, some of the problems described by the youth at the meeting included:•a lack of information with regards to developments taking place on addressing their demands for employment, training and education; •’the ignorance of some governors and councillors toward the issues related to the problem of the children of the struggle’; •and, sanitation and health problems, particularly in the Otjozondjupa Region, ‘where public toilets are rare’.The meeting also outlined various resolutions regarding the plight of the children of the liberation struggle, a small number of whom have been camping and demonstrating for their demands for over a year now.Amongst other things, they resolved not to move from their current positions at Swapo headquarters until the Government provides written assurance of what will be done to address their demands, and in what time frame.They also tasked Neka with engaging the joint ministerial committee dealing with their demands, getting ‘concrete information that is of satisfaction to the kids currently camping all across the country’, and requesting for representation on the joint ministerial committee to ‘advise and assist the government in coming up with programmes that are of our needs.’The group further gave Neka the responsibility of getting the Ministry of Home Affairs to assist those youth who still lack national identification documents, ‘otherwise our people won’t be able to vote’.Encouraging the demonstrating youth to be disciplined and ‘apply everything with caution and diplomacy’, Neka reiterated its position that the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, and not the Ministry of Youth, should address their demands.’It remains our conviction that the mandate of the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture (MYNSSC) is to deal with issues of national concern and not special cases such as the children of the struggle,’ Neka said.Meanwhile, the Minister of Youth last week wrote a letter addressed to Salomo Shinedima, Chairperson of the group camping at the Swapo headquarters in Windhoek, outlining all the steps that his Ministry had taken to date, and further appealing for the group’s patience and understanding.’It should be understood that the Ministry of Youth is only co-ordinating the process… Implementation in terms of employment and enrolment for studies is to be done by the other relevant Ministries, Offices and Agencies. Therefore, to put any blame for any delay only on the doorstep of the MYNSSC is highly unfair and unacceptable to say the least. I hope that now that this is in writing, you and your group will understand,’ Konjore wrote.nangula@namibian.com.na