By William J. Mbangula OSHAKATI The Governor for Oshana region Clemens Kashuupulwa has cautioned young girls and boys dating sugar daddies and sweet mummies respectively to stop what he termed a “shameful” practice. Many men and women lure girls and boys into sexual relations by pampering them with cash and assortments of gifts. Kashuupulwa was speaking at the launch of the seasonal HIV/AIDS campaign organised by the Oshana Youth Forum. “It is disheartening to notice young girls and boys going out with sugar daddies and sweet mummies who promise them the 3Cs, namely cars, cell phones and cash. This is indeed disgraceful and is not part of the African culture. We cannot afford to play with fire because AIDS is really slowing us down and wiping out our population,” he cautioned. Kashuupulwa noted the year 2006 must be a year of self-respect. It must be a year for all the people, youth, sugar daddies and sweet mummies to respect themselves. “We must be responsible citizens who are looking forward to building the nation and not to destroy what cost others their blood and their precious lives to have Namibia and its people at this level,” said the ruling Swapo Party politician. According to the regional governor, the Oshana Region with its population of nearly 162 000 is within the 15-59 years age group which is the most productive and yet vulnerable group affected by the dreadful disease. In the Oshana Region, about 12 percent of children under 15 years have been orphaned by the death of a father, six percent by the demise of a mother and two percent have lost both parents. In other words, about one out of five households have children with only one parent. The event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture Pohamba Shifeta who hailed the campaign as very crucial because it was taking place at the most emotional time when people are meeting from different directions of the country. He cautioned youths to be careful at all times when engaging in sexual practices in order to save their own lives and help Government programmes achieve more success.