Struggle kids' political football must stop

Without a shadow of a doubt the biggest political football in Namibian politics today remains the plight of the 210 struggle kids that continue to camp in the capital to demand government jobs. Whichever side of the fence one sits on this matter, what is undeniable is that no group of people deserves to be told so many stories by so many different voices within the ruling party. There have been forked-tongue pronouncements by two different prime ministers, with the first one saying that all entry-level government jobs should be reserved for struggle kids. His successor recently threw cold water on that pronouncement and told the struggle kids to go home and wait for the government to sort them out, along with all the unemployed youth in the country. Of course, Swapo's Central Committee recently endorsed this view that the struggle kids, who are currently also embroiled in a trespassing court case, should leave the capital and return to their regions. Just when things seemed to have reached some sort of decisive position, some of these struggle kids told Namibian Sun that they had been told by Swapo politicians that they should register as members of the SPYL, as only those among them with membership cards would be given preference when it comes to the dishing out of government jobs. To say the least, if this is true, it is highly unethical and corrupt. As it has been pointed out by the government in the past, there are masses of jobless youth who equally deserve consideration for employment in the public service, irrespective of their party affiliation. Also irksome is that if there are unscrupulous individuals leading these children of the liberation struggle up the garden path, despite directives by the government and the Swapo Central Committee, then it is a troublesome situation indeed. It is reckless and irresponsible for anyone to continue using this group of people as a political ball, to be kicked around and eventually discarded when their sell-by date is reached. What has always been required in this situation is for the ruling party and its government to sing from one hymn sheet and that the chorus should remain the same. A common sight now in Katutura is these struggle kids begging for money from motorists. What is next? Where will this all end? We do not see the fairness. No person's life should be used as board game.