San communities living in ‘slavery’

DEPUTY Prime Minister Libertina Amathila yesterday vowed to work with key stakeholders in addressing the plight of the San community, which she described as tantamount to slavery.

Speaking at a handover ceremony of N$40 000 in cash, clothes and mattresses donated by the Chinese-Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry to the Red Cross Society, Amathila said the San people in Namibia were living in abject poverty. The Deputy Prime Minister said the San were being exploited by fellow Namibians.”Imagine, some of these people are being paid a glass of tombo [homebrew] for hard labour on the farm,” she said.She said it was high time that Government took a leading role in addressing the pressing needs of the San.Amathila said she had been shocked to discover during a recent fact-finding mission that the greater part of the San community was living without basic shelter and food.A visibly worried Amathila said she would leave no stone unturned in her quest to help the marginalised.She said her office was working closely with key Government ministries such as Agriculture and Home Affairs to tackle the issue.”In line with Vision 2030, the San community deserves to part of the developmental process.Let’s not leave them behind,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.Amathila said her fact-finding mission would conclude on September 11 with a visit to the Omaheke Region.Afterwards, she will compile a detailed report for submission to Parliament and Cabinet.The Chinese ambassador to Namibia, Liang Yinzhu, said at the handover that it was essential for business people to assist the needy.He added that the local community needed to appreciate the role of Chinese businesses in Namibia.The Deputy Prime Minister said the San were being exploited by fellow Namibians.”Imagine, some of these people are being paid a glass of tombo [homebrew] for hard labour on the farm,” she said.She said it was high time that Government took a leading role in addressing the pressing needs of the San.Amathila said she had been shocked to discover during a recent fact-finding mission that the greater part of the San community was living without basic shelter and food.A visibly worried Amathila said she would leave no stone unturned in her quest to help the marginalised.She said her office was working closely with key Government ministries such as Agriculture and Home Affairs to tackle the issue.”In line with Vision 2030, the San community deserves to part of the developmental process.Let’s not leave them behind,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.Amathila said her fact-finding mission would conclude on September 11 with a visit to the Omaheke Region.Afterwards, she will compile a detailed report for submission to Parliament and Cabinet.The Chinese ambassador to Namibia, Liang Yinzhu, said at the handover that it was essential for business people to assist the needy.He added that the local community needed to appreciate the role of Chinese businesses in Namibia.