African child: The Angolan children facing hunger, cold and neglect on Windhoek's streets

Angolan children, some as young as three, are increasingly seen begging at busy roads and shopping centres in Windhoek and other urban areas, telling Namibian Sun they left Angola in search of a better life.

Now they depend on handouts from the public to survive.

During recent interviews with Namibian Sun, many of the children were of primary school age, while some were accompanied by infants and toddlers.

They spend their days on the streets and at shopping areas begging for money and food from motorists and pedestrians.

One boy said he paid N$50 to travel by bus to Namibia.

Another group of boys, estimated to be between four and nine years old, described themselves as orphans. Namibian Sun could not independently verify their claims.

Several children appeared reluctant to speak about their circumstances.

One boy, believed to be around nine, walked away in tears when asked whether he was afraid of anyone.

The children said the money they collect is used mainly to buy food. Some said they go without meals on days when they do not collect enough.

They said life in Namibia, despite its hardships, offers better prospects than what they left behind in Angola.

Hunger, cold and survival

The children say hunger and the freezing winter temperatures are among the biggest challenges they face while eking out a life on the streets.

"Most of us here, especially the boys, came by ourselves and left our parents in Angola. We are struggling to adjust to the cold. We have no blankets," one said.

Another said food is scarce and often restricted to bread – if anything at all.

"We find it hard to eat every day. In most cases, we get leftovers from the people we encounter on the road, whether they are driving or walking.

"We usually eat once a day or nothing at all. Mostly bread is the go-to meal every day. We do not bathe because we do not have water for that.”

Many live in overcrowded makeshift shelters in Okuryangava, where dozens of Angolan nationals are believed to be staying.

"We all come from Okuryangava. That is where we live. It is very full, and nobody cooks because the money we get is used to buy something cheap to feed the stomach," another child told Namibian Sun.

The group admitted that the younger children are often sent to busier areas because they are more likely to receive assistance from the public.

"If you are young, you are most likely to go to town since we are deemed energetic, whereas the older ones stay closer," one child said.

The group move around Windhoek in small clusters.

Many fear certain adults operating around transport loading points.

"We are scared of the guys by the side of the road who assist with loading people. They tell us not to speak for free," one child said.

Life at the margins

Namibian Sun also spoke to 26-year-old Nene Kalende, who is raising three children while surviving through begging.

"I have about three children here with me. I am not the only lady here with kids; there are a few of us," she said.

Kalende said more than 60 people live in makeshift conditions in Okuryangava.

"We live in Okuryangava close to a bridge," she said. "It is not nice, but it is the only suitable place for us at the moment."

She said survival depends entirely on what people are able to collect each day.

"There are days when we share one slice of bread among five people and it's really difficult," Kalende said.

She admitted that children are often sent out to beg at intersections because they are more likely to attract sympathy.

"We mostly allow the kids to roam the streets to get something because they are more approachable and energetic," she said.

Kalende said winter has made an already difficult situation worse.

"We do not have blankets and cannot make a fire to keep ourselves warm at night," she said.

She appealed for assistance from authorities.

"We would like the government to assist us with getting a warm shelter. We are just trying to survive and guide the little ones," Kalende said.

During the interviews, Namibian Sun's team observed several children who appeared frail and exhausted after spending hours in the cold weather. Some struggled to remain alert, while others sat quietly along roadsides waiting for motorists to stop.

Despite repeated repatriation drives, authorities acknowledge the problem continues to grow, with many children returning to Namibia's streets in search of a better life.

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