Repatriated refugees reject Swapo eviction notice
Former Namibian refugees repatriated in 1989 have refused to vacate Swapo’s national headquarters, where they have been camping since October 2025, citing a lack of transparency over funds they say were earmarked for their reintegration.
The group, which includes exile-born children, was issued with a letter by Swapo on Monday instructing them to leave by 10:00 yesterday. However, they insisted they will remain until their concerns are formally addressed and a response is received from the United Nations headquarters in Geneva concerning the alleged reintegration funding.
Namibian Sun spoke to Matheus Nangolo, chairperson of the Repatriated Refugees Association, who explained that the group walked out of a meeting at the international relations and trade ministry yesterday after officials requested that the media be excluded from further discussions.
Nangolo described the situation as unfair, saying key questions about budget allocations for rehabilitation and resettlement remained unanswered.
“We found ourselves in darkness. We asked how much money was budgeted for rehabilitation, how much for resettlement, since the UN is responsible for that task. We need that information to rehabilitate and resettle ourselves,” Nangolo said.
He added that repeated meetings with ministers and officials, including at State House, have yielded no clarity. “People are crying. We were left in the dust. That is why we cannot move,” he emphasised.
Determined to get answers
The former refugees insist that Swapo’s headquarters is not private property but municipal land and say they will not vacate the site until they receive official documentation explaining how the N$21.7 million allegedly allocated for their reintegration at independence was managed.
In a report published by this newspaper last Saturday, it was noted that Swapo had held a meeting with the demonstrators involving party representatives, UN officials and the former refugees in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa said a review of the party’s records, including archives from previous leadership, found no evidence that funds intended for the returnees were received, withheld or mismanaged.
“Our party maintains comprehensive files of all income and expenditures,” Shaningwa said last week.
She added that the UN’s presence at the meeting was intended to ensure transparency and fairness, particularly regarding allegations of mishandled donor funds during the repatriation process.
Despite these assurances, Nangolo and his group remain sceptical, arguing that repeated explanations without access to official records are insufficient. “We cannot go further with any meeting while they are hiding the documentation. We will only move when we receive a progress report and the required letter,” he said.
Attempts to reach Swapo national spokesperson Hilma Nicanor for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.
- [email protected]
The group, which includes exile-born children, was issued with a letter by Swapo on Monday instructing them to leave by 10:00 yesterday. However, they insisted they will remain until their concerns are formally addressed and a response is received from the United Nations headquarters in Geneva concerning the alleged reintegration funding.
Namibian Sun spoke to Matheus Nangolo, chairperson of the Repatriated Refugees Association, who explained that the group walked out of a meeting at the international relations and trade ministry yesterday after officials requested that the media be excluded from further discussions.
Nangolo described the situation as unfair, saying key questions about budget allocations for rehabilitation and resettlement remained unanswered.
“We found ourselves in darkness. We asked how much money was budgeted for rehabilitation, how much for resettlement, since the UN is responsible for that task. We need that information to rehabilitate and resettle ourselves,” Nangolo said.
He added that repeated meetings with ministers and officials, including at State House, have yielded no clarity. “People are crying. We were left in the dust. That is why we cannot move,” he emphasised.
Determined to get answers
The former refugees insist that Swapo’s headquarters is not private property but municipal land and say they will not vacate the site until they receive official documentation explaining how the N$21.7 million allegedly allocated for their reintegration at independence was managed.
In a report published by this newspaper last Saturday, it was noted that Swapo had held a meeting with the demonstrators involving party representatives, UN officials and the former refugees in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa said a review of the party’s records, including archives from previous leadership, found no evidence that funds intended for the returnees were received, withheld or mismanaged.
“Our party maintains comprehensive files of all income and expenditures,” Shaningwa said last week.
She added that the UN’s presence at the meeting was intended to ensure transparency and fairness, particularly regarding allegations of mishandled donor funds during the repatriation process.
Despite these assurances, Nangolo and his group remain sceptical, arguing that repeated explanations without access to official records are insufficient. “We cannot go further with any meeting while they are hiding the documentation. We will only move when we receive a progress report and the required letter,” he said.
Attempts to reach Swapo national spokesperson Hilma Nicanor for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.
- [email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article