Hunger drove struggle kid to his death

Struggle kids are mourning the death of one of their comrades, who was hit by a truck on the B1 highway just outside Windhoek last Thursday evening, after hunger drove him to cross the dangerous road, so he could collect cow tripe at an abattoir.
A group of struggle kids gathered next to the road this past Friday to mourn the death of Halwoodi Petrus, who had been camping on Swapo land in Brakwater since December last year.
He was hit by a truck travelling in the direction of Okahandja at about 18:00.
Jerry Hamukwaya, who referred to the deceased as his “brother”, told Namibian Sun on Friday that Halwoodi had probably been on his way to Indraai Abattoir, where they usually receive tripe from the owners.
The group said that they were waiting for senior party members to come and address them, as they had called the office of Swapo Secretary-General Nangolo Mbumba, to inform him that one of them had died, probably because hunger had driven him to cross the highway.
“You see now what is happening here. We are dying because we are looking for food from all of our neighbours. We want the Namibian people to see how we are being neglected and punished.
“Let the senior leadership of Swapo come and address us. We are getting tired of waiting here in poverty, while others enjoy the fruits of this country,” Hamukwaya said, with great irritation and sadness in his voice.
The land that the struggle kids are living on has running water, but there is no electricity.
Another woman, who only identified herself as a struggle kid, said that the winter chill is upon them, and there were children, babies and pregnant women at the campsite, living in flimsy tents.
Hamukwaya, who proceeded to speak on behalf of the group, said they were still planning to return to Windhoek, since their demands for jobs have not been met.
According to Hamukwaya, the family of the deceased has been notified and the funeral arrangements will be finalised with his relatives in Windhoek.
The group had dispersed by midday Friday.
KEITH VRIES