Angolan street kids have 'highest attention'

Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare says the situation of Angolan children begging and selling goods on Namibian streets is receiving high-level attention from both the Namibian and Angolan governments, with bilateral discussions under way.

Speaking in the National Assembly last Thursday, Ngurare said three to four ministries were working on the matter and that the government would provide more details as the discussions progressed.

“There are bilateral discussions on the matter,” he assured lawmakers. “We appreciate your concern and that of the Namibian people. It is a matter receiving the highest attention of the two governments and we will give feedback,” Ngurare said.

He said concerns about child trafficking formed part of the ongoing talks, as some children appeared to be being used by adults to beg, raising questions about possible trafficking.

“Society has some degree of discomfort in the manner in which these children are behaving. It also appears that when they are out there, there is an elder somewhere using them to go and beg,” Ngurare said.

“We will in the goodness of time reveal the specifics or actions being taken to have the matter addressed, both on child trafficking and other components,” Ngurare said.

International concern

Ngurare was responding to a question from Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) MP Lilian Lutuhezi, who sought an update on discussions between the two governments.

Lutuhezi raised concerns about the growing number of Angolan children seen on Windhoek roadsides as well as the risks of exploitation and trafficking.

Her question comes amid concerns raised in an Amnesty International report on the human rights impact of drought-related displacement from southern Angola into northern Namibia.

The report highlights the vulnerability of displaced women and children, including barriers to healthcare and education, inadequate access to housing, food and water, lack of documentation, and risks of exploitation and trafficking.