Who’s responsible for health of ‘struggle children’?

THE demonstration of the ‘children of the liberation struggle’ outside the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs continues unabated, while health and hygiene conditions continue to worsen, without municipal intervention.

Despite the protest starting more than six weeks ago, a report from the Windhoek City Council has yet to be issued; it has not laid out its position on the deteriorating health conditions, despite these conditions being in clear conflict of the City’s health regulations for dwellings or other premises. “I can’t make a statement with regards to the situation until I have received the report from Council,” Liz Sibindi, Public Relations Officer for the City of Windhoek, told The Namibian on Wednesday.LIVES IN LIMBO In the meantime, demonstrators continue to use the area behind the ministry to relieve and bathe themselves in the absence of proper ablution facilities.They sleep on the pavement outside the ministry, sometimes without blankets, and the unlucky ones use cardboard and plastic as mattresses.Five toddlers and three pregnant women are among the group, and many of the young people complain of hunger – so far their committee has failed to secure donations of food aid.During The Namibian’s last visit to the site, one demonstrator said that there were sick people among them.He claimed that he himself was suffering from malaria and had visited the hospital three times.Regardless of the hardship, however, the youths at the forefront of the demonstration are sticking by their guns.They say they will not return to their homes even after the registration process begins on October 27.”We are waiting for registration, and they have told us that we who are demonstrating will be the first to be registered before they go to the regions.But even after registering, we won’t go anywhere until we receive employment,” says Shinedima Salomon, spokesperson for the group.”They can take us to a base or a camp if they want to, just as we were used to staying in while we were in exile.But we will not go home until we receive the employment or education that we have demanded.”QUESTIONS So the question remains: given the potential health hazards caused by the lack of ablution facilities in the area, who should be responsible for the dispersal or relocation of the demonstrators? According to Salomon, the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, which chairs the joint ministerial committee that is working on a solution, had scheduled a meeting with the leaders of the demonstrators’ committee to take place on Tuesday, but was cancelled at the last minute.Since then, Deputy Minister Pohamba Shifeta as addressed them (see report elsewhere).Representatives at the Ministry of Youth and at Veterans’ Affairs could not be reached for comment.TransNamib, which owns the property rented by the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs, have followed up with the ministry, pointing out the obligations that it has as tenant.However, according to the Chief Corporate Communications Officer at the parastatal, Ailly Hangula-Paulino, the ministry has told TransNamib that the situation is “a ministerial and Cabinet issue that they are currently trying to resolve”.CONCERNS TransNamib continues to wait.”We are concerned about the image (of TransNamib), as well as the hygiene and cleanliness of the area.Ideally, we would like to see it back in order,” Hangula-Paulino said.”We are concerned about the people themselves [the demonstrators] and are hoping for an effective solution because it is human suffering,” she added.With regard to the image of the parastatal itself, Hangula-Paulino said: “Some members of the public are confused about whether TransNamib is still on strike, and it can often be a challenge to address this.The march started at around the same time that the petition was handed over, and the public is questioning whether our workers are striking again.When we respond that they are not, the public then questions why the demonstration is taking place on TransNamib property.”Given TransNamib’s position as the owner of the property, it is the only entity that can request the courts to evict the demonstrators.However, it has been asked by its tenant, the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs, to remain patient while a sustainable solution is sought.City Police Chief Abraham Kanime said the City Police were aware of the problems surrounding the demonstration, but their hands were tied.”The whole thing is with the owner of the property and the court.The Police can only go in to remove the demonstrators if the owner of the property requests a court eviction, and a court eviction order is then issued for their removal,” he said.SWAPO YOUTH Speaking on behalf of the Swapo Youth League, its General Secretary, Elijah Ngurare, said he had been meeting with the leaders of the demonstrators and listening to their concerns “since Day One”.”Their concerns are legitimate, and we share in their frustration, their anger, and their sense of expectation insofar as finding a resolution to the problem.Many people, including the SPYL are sympathetic to their plight,” he said.Ngurare added that the SPYL was confident that Government would find a favourable solution, and appealed to the protesters to give Government a chance to begin implementing this solution.”After the registration process [taking place from October 27 to November 7, a process of verification to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of those who have registered needs to take place, followed by a process to determine which ministries, agencies and offices should take them in.At that stage, it will be clear what will take place,” he said.With regard to health hazards, Ngurare said: “Our appeal from the party side for the demonstrators to return to their regions or places of origin and to be understanding of the process has been influenced by this health concern.”Ngurare commended the demonstrators for “their sense of discipline and patriotism and for their exemplary conduct” during this time, and appealed to the nation “to rally behind these young people, because in the long run it will be better for the whole nation”.With no authority taking active measures in response to the unhygienic conditions at the demonstration site, there is no indication as to how far the situation will be allowed to go before it becomes a serious hazard for the demonstrators and the public.Amunyela Shaliu Kanana, a member of the demonstrators’ committee, has stated that more protesters are expected to join the 180-strong group.”We can’t move from here until we get jobs.Even after registration, we won’t go until we get jobs and education.”Salomon concluded by stating: “They are thinking that someone is pushing us to do this.No, we are doing this on our own – no one is pushing us from behind.Take note that we are Swapo, and we will die as Swapo.””I can’t make a statement with regards to the situation until I have received the report from Council,” Liz Sibindi, Public Relations Officer for the City of Windhoek, told The Namibian on Wednesday.LIVES IN LIMBO In the meantime, demonstrators continue to use the area behind the ministry to relieve and bathe themselves in the absence of proper ablution facilities.They sleep on the pavement outside the ministry, sometimes without blankets, and the unlucky ones use cardboard and plastic as mattresses.Five toddlers and three pregnant women are among the group, and many of the young people complain of hunger – so far their committee has failed to secure donations of food aid.During The Namibian’s last visit to the site, one demonstrator said that there were sick people among them.He claimed that he himself was suffering from malaria and had visited the hospital three times.Regardless of the hardship, however, the youths at the forefront of the demonstration are sticking by their guns.They say they will not return to their homes even after the registration process begins on October 27.”We are waiting for registration, and they have told us that we who are demonstrating will be the first to be registered before they go to the regions.But even after registering, we won’t go anywhere until we receive employment,” says Shinedima Salomon, spokesperson for the group.”They can take us to a base or a camp if they want to, just as we were used to staying in while we were in exile.But we will not go home until we receive the employment or education that we have demanded.”QUESTIONS So the question remains: given the potential health hazards caused by the lack of ablution facilities in the area, who should be responsible for the dispersal or relocation of the demonstrators? According to Salomon, the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, which chairs the joint ministerial committee that is working on a solution, had scheduled a meeting with the leaders of the demonstrators’ committee to take place on Tuesday, but was cancelled at the last minute.Since then, Deputy Minister Pohamba Shifeta as addressed them (see report elsewhere).Representatives at the Ministry of Youth and at Veterans’ Affairs could not be reached for comment.TransNamib, which owns the property rented by the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs, have followed up with the ministry, pointing out the obligations that it has as tenant.However, according to the Chief Corporate Communications Officer at the parastatal, Ailly Hangula-Paulino, the ministry has told TransNamib that the situation is “a ministerial and Cabinet issue that they are currently trying to resolve”. CONCERNS TransNamib continues to wait.”We are concerned about the image (of TransNamib), as well as the hygiene and cleanliness of the area.Ideally, we would like to see it back in order,” Hangula-Paulino said.”We are concerned about the people themselves [the demonstrators] and are hoping for an effective solution because it is human suffering,” she added.With regard to the image of the parastatal itself, Hangula-Paulino said: “Some members of the public are confused about whether TransNamib is still on strike, and it can often be a challenge to address this.The march started at around the same time that the petition was handed over, and the public is questioning whether our workers are striking again.When we respond that they are not, the public then questions why the demonstration is taking place on TransNamib property.”Given TransNamib’s position as the owner of the property, it is the only entity that can request the courts to evict the demonstrators.However, it has been asked by its tenant, the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs, to remain patient while a sustainable solution is sought.City Police Chief Abraham Kanime said the City Police were aware of the problems surrounding the demonstration, but their hands were tied.”The whole thing is with the owner of the property and the court.The Police can only go in to remove the demonstrators if the owner of the property requests a court eviction, and a court eviction order is then issued for their removal,” he said.SWAPO YOUTH Speaking on behalf of the Swapo Youth League, its General Secretary, Elijah Ngurare, said he had been meeting with the leaders of the demonstrators and listening to their concerns “since Day One”.”Their concerns are legitimate, and we share in their frustration, their anger, and their sense of expectation insofar as finding a resolution to the problem.Many people, including the SPYL are sympathetic to their plight,” he said.Ngurare added that the SPYL was confident that Government would find a favourable solution, and appealed to the protesters to give Government a chance to begin implementing this solution.”After the registration process [taking place from October 27 to November 7, a process of verification to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of those who have registered needs to take place, followed by a process to determine which ministries, agencies and offices should take them in.At that stage, it will be clear what will take place,” he said.With regard to health hazards, Ngurare said: “Our appeal from the party side for the demonstrators to return to their regions or places of origin and to be understanding of the process has been influenced by this health concern.”Ngurare commended the demonstrators for “their sense of discipline and patriotism and for their exemplary conduct” during this time, and appealed to the nation “to rally behind these young people, because in the long run it will be better for the whole nation”.With no authority taking active measures in response to the unhygienic conditions at the demonstration site, there is no indication as to how far the situation will be allowed to go before it becomes a serious hazard for the demonstrators and the public.Amunyela Shaliu Kanana, a member of the demonstrators’ committee, has stated that more protesters are expected to join the 180-strong group.”We can’t move from here until we get jobs.Even after registration, we won’t go until we get jobs and education.”Salomon concluded by stating: “They are thinking that someone is pushing us to do this.No, we are doing this on our own – no one is pushing us from behind.Take note that we are Swapo, and we will die as Swapo.”