‘Struggle kids’ not special: Ithana

SWAPO has expressed shock and dismay at the ‘unbecoming and counter revolutionary tactics’ used by the ‘children of the liberation struggle’ who occupied a bridge and clashed with the Police at Oshakati.

Party Secretary General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana said the Politburo discussed the issue and was less than impressed with the behaviour of the ‘struggle kids’.’Such behaviour was uncalled for as their challenges are being addressed in conformity with the general challenges facing the rest of Namibian youth,’ she said while sharing Politburo resolutions with the media.A week ago Police had to use teargas to disperse about 500 ‘struggle children’ who had occupied Oshakati’s Kandjengedi Bridge demanding to see President Hifikepunye Pohamba. Police used teargas to disperse the demonstrators and open the road after five hours of negotiations with them.Ithana said Government was working on projects to create jobs for ‘all’ youth in the country and that the struggle children must accept that they are part of a bigger challenge.’Even some of the people who did not go into exile suffered equally. We know of 200 people who were dumped live into the sea and we also have their children. We can’t have a special category for one group. We are seized with the issue but it’s larger than struggle children,’ Ithana said.The group is camping out at Swapo’s Oshana headquarters while another bunch are at the party’s national head office in Windhoek.In a recent letter to President Pohamba, the group asked that their situation be urgently addressed. The deadline for a response was April 24. No response had been received by that date.Among the group are pregnant women and young children. christof@namibian.com.na