Youth Ministry not only for struggle kids, says Minister

CHILDREN born in Namibia during the struggle shouldn’t feel left out while efforts to address ‘the plight of the youth born in exile’ and to provide up to 10 106 jobs and educational opportunities for them are being rolled out.

That was one of the messages of Youth Minister Willem Konjore yesterday, when he outlined Government’s plans to embark on a process for the ‘children of the liberation struggle, aimed at verifying their information, determining their health status, age and gender information in relation to their preferred placement, providing social counselling for those in need, and creating a temporary shelter for the internally displaced. Konjore also called on the public ‘not to politicise this issue for political expediency, but rather to assist in finding lasting solutions to the plight of the affected youth.’Cabinet on Tuesday announced that the Ministry of Finance had been instructed to release N$2 million for the relocation of some 600 or so of the youth that are camped at Swapo offices in Windhoek and Oshakati and to facilitate the process outlined above. But Konjore also pointed out yesterday that this ‘was an estimated amount raised during continuous discussions for the verification, recruitment, placement, counselling and relocation if need be of the youth in question,’ adding that no final decision had been taken on costs.’It should, however, be clear that whatever amount is allocated for this purpose, is not meant for handouts to the youth,’ he added.A large number of the camping ‘children’ have said that they have no home to return to, and would most likely opt for the relocation option. But Namibia is also home to thousands of children living on the streets, with a 2004 report citing 300 street kids in Windhoek, and a 2006 report citing between 350 to 400 in Gobabis. On top of that, the national unemployment rate currently stands at around 37 per cent, with youth representing the most affected portion of this number. National youth unemployment stands at around 60 per cent. So far, 1 044 of the 10 106 registered ‘struggle kids’ have been recruited by the NDF, 29 have been employed as workhands in the parks of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, and a few other jobs and scholarships have been availed to them.Asked whether the pains being taken to accommodate the ‘struggle youth’ did not signal favouritism for this group of children against those born in Namibia (given the national unemployment and education problem), Konjore reiterated that ‘children of the liberation struggle’ also included some ‘children’ born in Namibia.He added that ‘the Ministry of Youth is responsible for all the youth, and therefore, even for those born in the country. Therefore, all those born here will also be provided for within the scope of the Government’s structures, such as with the National Youth Service.’Earlier in the press conference, Konjore also described the ‘special case’ of the affected youth, saying ‘these youth grew up in an environment that was abnormal, lacking parental upbringing and guidance to a large extent. Some of the youth do not know their parents since they (their parents) sacrificed their precious lives in the struggle for the liberation of Namibia. Life in the refugee camps was difficult and had a negative impact on these youth, even more so for those that had no biological parents to look after them.’Current statistics show that Namibia currently has an estimated 155 000 orphans. This number soars to 250 000 when vulnerable children are included. With regards to Government’s ongoing process to address the demands of these youth, Konjore also appealed to the state’s social partners such as churches, NGOs, the private sector and the international community to assist Government in this regard. ‘The Government is committed to once and for all find a solution to the plight of the youth born in exile,’ he said. He added that in addition to conducting interviews, the team which will ‘soon’ be dispatched ‘will also register the approximately 700 more youth born in exile who had not been registered before.’’I call upon the youth born in exile and who are camping at different Swapo Party offices in the country to return to their respective regions so that they can also be included in the interviews that are going to take place. Their return is necessary as no interviews will be conducted at camping places’, he added.He also appealed to youth for their cooperation and patience during the interview process, as well as to their parents, foster parents and/or relatives ‘to come forward and to be a part of the Government’s efforts of finding a lasting solution to the social problems these citizens are encountering.’nangula@namibian.com.na