MPs warn youth against ‘greener pastures’ abroad

YOUNG Namibians leaving to work in countries such as the US and United Kingdom have been forced into prostitution or working on remote farms, a Swapo MP in the National Council alleged on Wednesday.

Margareth Mensah-Williams was reporting the findings of the National Council Women Parliamentarians outreach programme to nine regions last year.She said Namibian youths were leaving the country after being convinced by friends or relatives that there were job opportunities abroad.’Human trafficking is taking place in our environments and most are not aware whether what is happening around them is trafficking,’ said Mensah-Williams. She said when the young people reached their destination, their passports were taken away from them, making it difficult for them to report their traffickers because they couldn’t prove that they had entered the country legally.It is against this background that Mensah-Williams warned Namibian youth to be careful about job opportunities offered in South Africa during the Fifa World Cup.’Please make sure that you get the right information before you get there,’ she said.Mensa said the MPs had found child labour during their trip to the Erongo, Otjozondjupa, Omaheke, Hardap, Karas, Ohangwena, Caprivi, Kavango and Khomas regions.Children were made to work as housekeepers and cattle herders in rural areas instead of going to school, she said.’There was a case reported in Ohangwena of a teacher who has taken his sister’s son to go and look after his cattle,’ Mensah-Williams reported to the House.On baby dumping, the NC women caucus found that this was caused by alcohol abuse, false promises by boyfriends, rape and domestic violence. They called on parents to discipline their children and instil values in them.’Nowadays, you find young girls cohabiting with boyfriends, behaving as if they are married. Such couples will not be motivated by anything to get married, because they live together as married couple,’ said the report.On gender-based violence, the NC women caucus said this problem was escalating in Namibia.Men were also falling victim to domestic violence but did not report it to the Police because they were ashamed, the MPs found.