ONGWEDIVA- A 16-year-old boy, Lazarus Pandeni Junias, has no other option but to live under a tree in Ongwediva, Oshana region, after a series of family tragedies left him without care, shelter, or support. Before life on the streets, Junias had what many children consider a normal life. He attended Kuisebmond Primary School in Walvis Bay, where he lived with his mother, Musa James, who raised him on her own for most of his life.
According to Junias, life began changing in 2023 when he and his mother relocated from Walvis Bay to northern Namibia in search of better opportunities and a fresh start.
“We moved to the north to try and make a living,” he explained.
He said that despite the challenges they faced, he still had a home, food, and someone to care for him. However, their hopes for a better future were short-lived.
Later that year, his mother travelled to Zimbabwe after receiving news that her mother was seriously ill and needed care. Lazarus remained behind in Namibia under the care of a nanny while his mother travelled.
But tragedy struck before she could return home.
“She went to Zimbabwe, and that’s where she died in a car accident,” he said sadly.
The death of his mother marked the beginning of a painful downward spiral. With no immediate family support and no stable income, the nanny who had been looking after him eventually left.
“The nanny said there was no money anymore because my mother was gone,” he explained. “After some time, she also left,” he recalled.
Soon after, Junias was evicted from the place where he had been staying because there was no one left to pay rent.
“That’s when I started living outside,” he stated.
Since then, the teenager has been moving between Ondangwa, Oshakati and Ongwediva, trying to survive on his own while exposed to harsh weather conditions and hunger.
Today, he spends most of his days collecting empty cans and scrap metal, which he sells to scrapyards for a small amount of money.
“I pick cans and metal just to survive,” he expressed. “If I’m lucky, I get a few dollars to buy food,” he said.
Some days, he says, he goes to sleep hungry.
“Most days I don’t eat properly,” he revealed.
At night, Junias says he sleeps under a tree in Ongwediva because he has nowhere else to go.
“When it rains, I get wet. When it’s cold, I just stay there and try to sleep,” he explained. “I have nowhere to go,” he lamented.
Beyond hunger and homelessness, Junias says one of the biggest emptinesses in his life is not knowing his father.
“I don’t know my father,” he stated. “His name is John Juniors. I have never met him,” he shared.
He is now appealing to members of the public who may know his father or relatives connected to him to come forward.
“If anyone knows him, please tell him I am looking for him,” he pleaded.
Despite everything he has endured, Junias says he has not completely lost hope.
He dreams of getting help, finding shelter, and eventually returning to school to rebuild his future.
“I just want a place to stay and a better life,” he said softly.