Shaningwa: Coronavirus has humbled us

NAMPAWINDHOEK Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa says the coronavirus is a humbling pandemic after its outbreak forced her to visit children of the liberation struggle for the first time.The Swapo administrator made these comments last Saturday, when she, alongside residents from her neighbourhood – Rocky Crest – visited the children of the liberation struggle to hand out food parcels and other basic necessities. Known as 'struggle kids', the children of the liberation struggle – whose parents either died during the struggle or are currently languishing in poverty – have been housed at a Swapo-owned farm some 15 kilometres outside Windhoek for years now. They fought for this country and sacrificed their lives for the betterment of this nation,” Shaningwa said.First-time visitBut it took a global pandemic for the SG to pay the struggle kids a visit, she admitted on the day. Shaningwa and her entourage were accompanied by around 10 police officers.“Let me conclude with thanking [officials] of the Namibian Police for bringing me here because I haven't been here before. It's the first time. Corona is humbling people and is bringing us together,” a seemingly candid Shaningwa said.Asked to clarify what she meant, she explained: “When you are humbled, it means you will have to come together because sometimes we were at a distance. But at this stage, all of us are attacked by what is going on in Namibia.”The SG added that this attitude of humility must continue beyond the pandemic.“Human beings should be like that,” she said. Shaningwa also emphasised to the struggle kids to observe all directives Namibians are expected to abide by during the lockdown period.“Stay a little bit not close to each other, both at work and at home. You here should try to do the same (observe social distancing and self-isolation). I understand the conditions and the situation you are living [in]. We are talking about distancing but some of you, in one kambashu (shack), you are already 10, the situation which is not preventable,” she said.“We thank coronavirus that our mother [Shaningwa] is here. Because we only know you from the office. But now because of this disease, our mother is here,” Albertina Ekandjo, the group's spokesperson, said.Globally, the pandemic has killed over 60 000 people so far, with 1.1 million active cases.

Shaningwa: Coronavirus has humbled us

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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Shaningwa: Coronavirus has humbled us

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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