The ‘children of the liberation struggle’ who walked from Oshakati, Rundu and Grootfontein on Friday arrived in Windhoek.
About 100 ‘struggle kids’ from Oshakati, 17 from Rundu and 12 from Grootfontein on Tuesday started marching to the capital in protest of alleged unfair treatment they have been receiving from the Swapo leadership in Windhoek and to seek answers on their demands for employment.
Speaking to Nampa on Saturday, the Oshakati group’s spokesperson, Tuhafeni Nhinda said the group from Rundu arrived first on Friday afternoon, while the groups from Oshakati and Grootfontein met in Otavi and arrived at about 18h00 the same day.
Nhinda said they walked from their respective places as from Tuesday, but they had managed to secure transport along the way from good Samaritans.
It took all groups a total of four days to reach Windhoek.
Nhinda said they are now accommodated by the group which has been camping at the Swapo-Ndilimani farm at Brakwater, outside Windhoek.
He said the representatives from these four groups will have a meeting with the Swapo leadership on Monday to discuss the way forward.
The group’s decision to march to Windhoek comes after a visit by Swapo Secretary-General (SG) Nangolo Mbumba to Oshakati on 03 June.
Most of the group members felt that responses the Swapo SG gave about their concerns were not satisfactory, and planned to seek the answers themselves in Windhoek.
Currently, about 512 children of the liberation struggle are camping at the farm near Brakwater.
“We are now resting at Ndilimini farm and we will have a meeting with the Swapo leadership on Monday. If we do not agree, we will all march and camp at the Swapo headquarters on Monday,” he said.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of the Namibian police, Lieutenant-General Sebastian Ndeitunga has placed a restriction on all public demonstrations from 13 to 18 June 2016.
A statement issued by police on Wednesday said the decision was necessitated by security considerations as multiple international events are taking place during this period.
“Intended demonstrations may proceed after 18 June 2016, following prescribed procedures,” the statement reads.
One of the international events planned for this period is the 31st session of the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) and European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly, which takes place from 11 to 15 June in the capital.
About 350 Parliamentarians from 28 EU countries and 79 ACP countries are expected to attend. The 16th edition of the Council of Southern African Football Association (Cosafa) Cup is also starting in Windhoek on Saturday and ends on 25 June.
Another event is the Indian President Pranab Mukherjee’s official State Visit to Namibia from 15 to 17 June 2016.
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