Relocation of struggle kids contentious

A FACTION within the group of ‘struggle children’ camping at the Swapo headquarters in Windhoek, who recently caused renewed tension between Government and the wider group over their relocation to Berg Aukas, has decided to cooperate with the intended move, despite still feeling hard done by.

Speaking to The Namibian yesterday, the spokesperson for this faction, Vaino Andreas, said that his faction had reunited with the larger group of protestors, and would co-operate with Government efforts to relocate them.He said, however, that the relocation – decided upon by Government in late September when it announced a N$2 million allocation for the move – still seemed unreasonable.’The point of relocation to Berg Aukas is pointless to us, as the idea looks political, while our demands are not political. Why do they want to chase us there when elections are so close?’Swearing allegiance to the Swapo Party, he added that ‘we have accepted to go, but we still feel pain for that. Where we are at the big office (Swapo headquarters), we are in front of ministers who come to the office, but why are they not talking to us, or solving our problem? We are also here in front of people. But there (at Berg Aukas), no one will see us or have sympathy for us. That’s why we want people to solve our problem before we are relocated.’Saying that the ‘children’ still had no idea what the conditions at the farm at Berg Aukas would be, or what activities they would be engaged in there, Andreas also asked that the group be briefed fully by Government and the group leaders on decisions concerning them.’We do not want anyone making decisions behind our back!’ he stated.Contacted for comment earlier this week, the spokesperson for the entire group located at the Swapo headquarters, Salomo Shinedima, refused to comment on the divisions within the group, only saying that they had mended their differences and had agreed to the move.Andreas also called on critics of the ‘children of the liberation struggle’ to understand the reasons behind their demands for education, employment and training.’To the few elements that find this demand a waste of resources, may it be clear to you that some of you never felt the hardship of living in camps under siege, cut off from your food supply by the enemies. But to us, this story is still lingering within our mind, a scar healed outside, but inside still fresh. And we can still feel the pain when you wake up not knowing what to do, while the government you fought for is our government, under the management and direction of our party, the Swapo Party,’ he said.Stating that the children of the struggle had to be given special treatment by Government because they had returned to an independent Namibia under the wing of the ruling party, Andreas said the group believed that Swapo, which had taken care of them in exile, ‘can still take care of us and our needs, which is to provide employment for the few children born in exile, today.’He added that those who had been part of the struggle and now looked down on them were also at fault.’As for those who fought alongside our parents in the bush and have enjoyed the full scale of Independence, we will not yield to your ignorance and selfish utterances. Know and understand that you are enjoying all the benefits because of the Swapo Party, and hence, consider our pledge to the party as real, and our demands as a matter of urgency.’nangula@namibian.com.na