Windhoek
Children of the liberation struggle, well known as ‘struggle kids’ have agreed to rejoin the Namibian Exile Kids Association (Neka).
This came after a meeting was chaired by the Nampol crime investigations’ coordinator for the Khomas Region, Deputy Commissioner Sylvanus Nghishidimbwa on Monday.
Yesterday both ‘struggle kids’ chairperson Tuhafeni Nhinda and Neka chairperson Benitha Nakaambo confirmed the agreement.
“Yes we have agreed that the ‘struggle kids’ will return their Neka membership cards and also the N$25 membership fee that was returned to them last year,” said Nakaambo.
Nhinda said that everything went as planned.
“We have agreed to reconcile, also we agreed that a date should be set to elect a new leadership of Neka,” said Nhinda yesterday.
Late last year an information sharing session between Neka and the ‘struggle kids’ degenerated into a frenzied attack when unruly members of the ‘struggle kids’ physically abused Neka staff.
At the time, the ‘struggle kids’ had returned their Neka membership cards and demanded back the N$25 each of them paid for membership. They then proceeded to tear up all documents from the files of the Neka leadership.
Neka leaders were assaulted and briefly held hostage by the unemployed group who were unhappy with the manner in which Neka was addressing their plight.
The ‘struggle kids’ accused Neka staff of being liars, who only used them “for personal gain”.
Group leader Martin Neumbo at the time told the Neka leadership that Neka’s administrator was rude and did not respond properly to their queries whenever they visited the office.
The scene was chaotic as some of the unruly ‘kids’ climbed onto tables and chairs to attack Neka’s leaders, who did very little to defend themselves.
Some ‘struggle kids’ used their Swapo scarfs to beat the Neka leaders, with one failed attempt to strangle Rauna Amutati, Neka’s secretary general, who shed tears during the assault.
Nakaambo was struck with an object thrown at her head during the incident.
The photo of founding president Dr Sam Nujoma, which was hanging on the wall together with that of incumbent president, Dr Hage Geingob, was also destroyed during the mayhem. Some chairs and a desk were damaged as well.
The Special Field Force was later called in to intervene.