Struggle kid jobs anger residents
A meeting to discuss the recent permanent appointments of nine struggle kids at public institutions at Outjo in the Kunene Region on Tuesday reached a deadlock.
The meeting, which lasted for nearly five hours, follows a demonstration by the residents, who aired their dismay over the job placements of the struggle kids as cleaners and labourers at the Outjo State Hospital, the agriculture ministry's veterinary services division and Outjo Primary School.
Five struggle kids have been employed at the hospital, while two each were placed at the other two public institutions.
The residents say government is being unfair and giving preferential treatment to the struggle kids, while unemployment is high at the town.
The meeting was held by Kunene health director Thomas Shapumba with stakeholders, including the hospital's management, Outjo Constituency councillor Johannes Antsino and police officers.
During the meeting, the residents instructed Shapumba to freeze the posts and stop the struggle kids at the hospital from performing their cleaning duties, which the health director refused to do.
“The five cleaner vacancies at the hospital were filled by the struggle kids as per the cabinet decision,” Shapumba said, adding struggle kids were being given equal treatment to marginalised communities in the country.
The struggle kids, he said, will from now on be given priority when applying for entry positions in government institutions, an issue which angered the residents who attended the meeting even more.
After the two parties had failed to agree, the matter was then referred to the Kunene governor Marius Sheya's office for an intervention.
The group of residents vowed to continue demonstrating by camping at the entrance of the Outjo State Hospital until their demands are met by government.
Residents of Okakarara, Okakamatapati and Coblenz in the Otjozondjupa Region in 2019 also demonstrated against government deploying 13 struggle kids to different settlements where they work as cleaners and labourers.
NAMPA
The meeting, which lasted for nearly five hours, follows a demonstration by the residents, who aired their dismay over the job placements of the struggle kids as cleaners and labourers at the Outjo State Hospital, the agriculture ministry's veterinary services division and Outjo Primary School.
Five struggle kids have been employed at the hospital, while two each were placed at the other two public institutions.
The residents say government is being unfair and giving preferential treatment to the struggle kids, while unemployment is high at the town.
The meeting was held by Kunene health director Thomas Shapumba with stakeholders, including the hospital's management, Outjo Constituency councillor Johannes Antsino and police officers.
During the meeting, the residents instructed Shapumba to freeze the posts and stop the struggle kids at the hospital from performing their cleaning duties, which the health director refused to do.
“The five cleaner vacancies at the hospital were filled by the struggle kids as per the cabinet decision,” Shapumba said, adding struggle kids were being given equal treatment to marginalised communities in the country.
The struggle kids, he said, will from now on be given priority when applying for entry positions in government institutions, an issue which angered the residents who attended the meeting even more.
After the two parties had failed to agree, the matter was then referred to the Kunene governor Marius Sheya's office for an intervention.
The group of residents vowed to continue demonstrating by camping at the entrance of the Outjo State Hospital until their demands are met by government.
Residents of Okakarara, Okakamatapati and Coblenz in the Otjozondjupa Region in 2019 also demonstrated against government deploying 13 struggle kids to different settlements where they work as cleaners and labourers.
NAMPA
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