2015-07-28Staff Report 2 Windhoek The group of so-called “struggle kids” that has been squatting without adequate water or electricity supply at the informal settlement of Okahandja Park has now packed up and moved on. The group, which suffered the loss of several members in recent years, could be seen on Sunday packing up and dismantling the makeshift structures they called home for the past three years. Group spokesperson, Abraham Hamupembe said: “We are grateful to President Hage Geingob and our appreciation goes out to the Commissioner of Prisons and Neka [Namibian Exile Kids Association] who have been fighting for us.” Following a prolonged standoff with the authorities, which resulted in several arrests and the death of one of their members, Frieda Ndatipo, during a skirmish with the police at Swapo Headquarters, most of the group have been recruited into the ministries of finance, agriculture and defense. The remaining group of around 40, which was recently recruited by the Correctional Services department in the Ministry of Safety and Security, headed home to the north over the past week to await their call-up for training. The secretary-general of Neka, Rauna Amutati, advised the unemployed not to camp out in urban areas while waiting to be employed, “because it is tough”. The group of disgruntled youth, known as Children of the Liberation Struggle, had walked to Windhoek from the Omusati and Otjozondjupa regions in 2013 to Windhoek to demand employment in government. 2015-07-28Staff Report 2
