‘Voting cows’ who have no IDs

Mushasho village in the Kavango East Region is home to hundreds of people from the marginalised San community who possess voting cards, but no national identity documents.

As such, they are stateless and their senior citizens do not receive the monthly government grant. They are forced to raise their children on limited food parcels provided by the state.

The area is situated some 270 kilometres east of Rundu in the Bwabwata National Park.

Around 14:00 one fine day last week, 96-year-old Numba Shambango sat in the company of fellow stateless pensioners, her children and grandchildren.

Narrating their challenges, the majority of the pensioners complained of not having national identity cards (IDs), something that prevents them from benefitting from the monthly grant from the state, which is a benefit enjoyed by other senior citizens around the country.

Adamant that they are Namibians, the group of stateless pensioners said it is unfortunate that they were born and lived in Namibia all their lives, yet they are not regarded as citizens of the country.

And yet they claim to be in possession of voters’ cards.

“The only country we know is Namibia, hence it is unfortunate that we only qualify to be voters and receive food parcels that do not last a month. This is the only country we know and we will die here,” Shambango said.

Outlawed

Theo Mujoro, the outgoing chief election and referenda officer of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), yesterday confirmed that it was possible to have a voter’s card but not national identity documents.

“This is possible, especially in regard to persons who registered as voters during the 2014 general voter registration exercise when registering through sworn statements was permissible and lawful under the Electoral Act,” he told Namibian Sun.

“The current Electoral Act, which outlawed the use of sworn statements, came into force during October 2014.”

Costly exercise

When asked whether they visited the home affairs office in Rundu for assistance, the San community said it is costly to travel to Rundu and back.

A round trip from Mushasho to Rundu would cost them around N$700, money they don’t have.

They argued that even when they do odd jobs and get money, their first priority is food, as going to Rundu and getting an ID is not guaranteed.

“To get an ID is expensive for us, which is why we gave up on hoping to get one. Why would I use N$700 or more on transport just to be told to come back next week and use another N$700?

“It is better to use the money for something for the house and to feed our children,” the group said.

‘We gave up’

“We gave up on hoping to be recognised as Namibians, but we would appreciate if they [government] can come to us and help us.

“The food parcels we receive from government do not even last a month. The last time we received food was in January and we have been making plans on how to survive.”

With the poor rainfall recorded this year, the group said they did not harvest anything from their fields this time around.

Another pensioner, 93-year-old Pwaya Kamungendjo, said their children are starting to look older than them because of poverty.

“Look at our children and the grandchildren. They look old, not because they are, but this is what poverty does to you.”

The marginalised community is pleading to Good Samaritans to assist them with basic necessities such as bedding, as they currently sleep on the bare ground.

They have also appealed for donations of food and clothes.

Some of the marginalised community at Mushasho village are related to a stateless San couple from Mutjiku village. Namibian Sun recently reported on their dire situation as they struggle to make a living in the face of abject poverty.

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