Exile kids slam intake of born-frees
Exile kids in the north claim youth as young as 20 are being recruited for civic training, with money that should only benefit them.
Children of the liberation struggle camping at the Swapo regional office in Oshakati have told youth minister Erastus Uutoni they are disappointed that some of the latest batch of young people, who were taken in for civic training at government training centres, were born after independence.
They argued the N$11 million that was diverted from the Social Security Commission (SSC) Development Fund in 2016 should benefit only them.
The group made a number of accusations regarding alleged corruption when it comes to the selection of trainees, when they met Uutoni during a familiarisation visit on Friday.
They claimed that youth as young as 20 are going for civic training.
“Can the honourable minister please explain why the procedure changed and how it happened that some of the people who are currently training are born as late as 1997? Is this programme for us children of the liberation struggle or not?” one of the group members asked.
Uutoni asked the group to provide evidence to his office.
“If you have such kind of information bring it to me, because I have not heard about it before,” Uutoni said.
Petition
Meanwhile, the group also handed over a petition to Uutoni in which they expressed their grievances, saying they have been camping since 2008 and have not received any job opportunities to date.
“We, the children of the liberation struggle, are here to ask you as our parent: When we will we be free from this? Since 2008 until today, how many days, weeks, months and years passed, but we are just here, as if we are in exile?” said Nikanor Ipinge, while reading from the petition.
They also pointed out that some of them have acquired skills in various fields and that they want government to assist them with employment opportunities.
Upon receiving the petition, Uutoni said the purpose of his visit was not to assure the group of any job opportunities, but to listen to them and to look at their concerns, before acting accordingly.
Uutoni was, however, shocked when he learnt there are children of the liberation struggle who had received job opportunities, but neglected them, saying this is not fair towards government.
After the consultation meeting, Swapo Oshana regional coordinator, Samuel Nelongo, was asked about the water bill at the party's office at Okandjengedi, where children of the liberation struggle have been making use of the toilets and water tap.
Nelongo said the bill is high, while explaining that on average it is about N$1 500, while the party forks out about N$3 000 per month for the removal of the contents of the sceptic tank.
“Yes, the bill is quite high as our combined monthly bill, excluding electricity, stands at around N$4 000 per month,” Nelongo said.
KENYA KAMBOWE
They argued the N$11 million that was diverted from the Social Security Commission (SSC) Development Fund in 2016 should benefit only them.
The group made a number of accusations regarding alleged corruption when it comes to the selection of trainees, when they met Uutoni during a familiarisation visit on Friday.
They claimed that youth as young as 20 are going for civic training.
“Can the honourable minister please explain why the procedure changed and how it happened that some of the people who are currently training are born as late as 1997? Is this programme for us children of the liberation struggle or not?” one of the group members asked.
Uutoni asked the group to provide evidence to his office.
“If you have such kind of information bring it to me, because I have not heard about it before,” Uutoni said.
Petition
Meanwhile, the group also handed over a petition to Uutoni in which they expressed their grievances, saying they have been camping since 2008 and have not received any job opportunities to date.
“We, the children of the liberation struggle, are here to ask you as our parent: When we will we be free from this? Since 2008 until today, how many days, weeks, months and years passed, but we are just here, as if we are in exile?” said Nikanor Ipinge, while reading from the petition.
They also pointed out that some of them have acquired skills in various fields and that they want government to assist them with employment opportunities.
Upon receiving the petition, Uutoni said the purpose of his visit was not to assure the group of any job opportunities, but to listen to them and to look at their concerns, before acting accordingly.
Uutoni was, however, shocked when he learnt there are children of the liberation struggle who had received job opportunities, but neglected them, saying this is not fair towards government.
After the consultation meeting, Swapo Oshana regional coordinator, Samuel Nelongo, was asked about the water bill at the party's office at Okandjengedi, where children of the liberation struggle have been making use of the toilets and water tap.
Nelongo said the bill is high, while explaining that on average it is about N$1 500, while the party forks out about N$3 000 per month for the removal of the contents of the sceptic tank.
“Yes, the bill is quite high as our combined monthly bill, excluding electricity, stands at around N$4 000 per month,” Nelongo said.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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