Govt efforts to help Angolans backfire
A group of Angolan nationals who have been roaming Namibian streets selling wooden spoons for over a year yesterday blasted deputy minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security Lucia Witbooi for placing them in a temporary shelter in Ondangwa.
The group, majority of whom are women and children, told Witbooi and other immigration officials that they are not happy at the Ondangwa National Youth Service Centre, where they have been staying for a little less than two weeks. According to the deputy minister, this is a temporary arrangement while the ministry engages with the Angolan government. Her visit to the centre follows a Cabinet decision to get the group off the streets and ultimately reunite them with their families in Angola.
Human trafficking
“We have identified them with the assistance and cooperation of the Angolan government. We are using our bilateral relations to reintegrate them back into their communities,” Witbooi said.
“We are also looking at the aspect of trafficking in persons, but that is not a two-day exercise. Investigations are ongoing with the responsible department and if they discover that human trafficking is part of it, it will be dealt with.”
For now, the ministry has assigned two rooms to the group - one accommodating men and the other for women and children. Toilets and a kitchen - with kitchen staff - are also available to the group.
Waiting on Angola
Witbooi said the Namibian government has all the logistics in place to facilitate safe travels for these individuals to the Oshikango border post between Namibia and Angola.
“Thereafter, their government takes over. We had a meeting with them [Angolan government] today and they indicated that they are putting things in place before they can give us a signal of when to release the people. If Angola says ‘we are ready’, then we move them,” she told the group yesterday.
The deputy minister added that the Namibian government will no longer allow the group to roam the streets, especially the young children who should be in school.
Never coming back
Speaking through a translator, an Angolan woman - who refused to be named - asked Witbooi what will happen if one of them dies at the centre. She wanted to know who would be responsible for the burial as they wear traditional attire, which should be handled in a specific way according to their culture.
To this, the deputy minister said she hopes it won’t come to that, stressing that the arrangement is temporary and that the members of the group will be moved soon.
“We do not need a bus. We came to Namibia on foot and we are willing to go back [on foot]. We will never come back here,” the group chanted as Witbooi addressed them.
After she briefed the group on the logistics, chaos erupted. They claimed they are being held against their will and want to walk back to their country. They do not want any other logistical assistance from Namibia or Angola, the members of the group added.
Police officers and security guards had to lock the centre's gate to stop the group from leaving the premises while Witbooi looked on. Later, the Angolan nationals agreed to have lunch, but shortly after, they threatened to leave again and the gate had to be locked once again.
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The group, majority of whom are women and children, told Witbooi and other immigration officials that they are not happy at the Ondangwa National Youth Service Centre, where they have been staying for a little less than two weeks. According to the deputy minister, this is a temporary arrangement while the ministry engages with the Angolan government. Her visit to the centre follows a Cabinet decision to get the group off the streets and ultimately reunite them with their families in Angola.
Human trafficking
“We have identified them with the assistance and cooperation of the Angolan government. We are using our bilateral relations to reintegrate them back into their communities,” Witbooi said.
“We are also looking at the aspect of trafficking in persons, but that is not a two-day exercise. Investigations are ongoing with the responsible department and if they discover that human trafficking is part of it, it will be dealt with.”
For now, the ministry has assigned two rooms to the group - one accommodating men and the other for women and children. Toilets and a kitchen - with kitchen staff - are also available to the group.
Waiting on Angola
Witbooi said the Namibian government has all the logistics in place to facilitate safe travels for these individuals to the Oshikango border post between Namibia and Angola.
“Thereafter, their government takes over. We had a meeting with them [Angolan government] today and they indicated that they are putting things in place before they can give us a signal of when to release the people. If Angola says ‘we are ready’, then we move them,” she told the group yesterday.
The deputy minister added that the Namibian government will no longer allow the group to roam the streets, especially the young children who should be in school.
Never coming back
Speaking through a translator, an Angolan woman - who refused to be named - asked Witbooi what will happen if one of them dies at the centre. She wanted to know who would be responsible for the burial as they wear traditional attire, which should be handled in a specific way according to their culture.
To this, the deputy minister said she hopes it won’t come to that, stressing that the arrangement is temporary and that the members of the group will be moved soon.
“We do not need a bus. We came to Namibia on foot and we are willing to go back [on foot]. We will never come back here,” the group chanted as Witbooi addressed them.
After she briefed the group on the logistics, chaos erupted. They claimed they are being held against their will and want to walk back to their country. They do not want any other logistical assistance from Namibia or Angola, the members of the group added.
Police officers and security guards had to lock the centre's gate to stop the group from leaving the premises while Witbooi looked on. Later, the Angolan nationals agreed to have lunch, but shortly after, they threatened to leave again and the gate had to be locked once again.
– [email protected]
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