Struggle kids in Rundu demand jobs
Camped for months at the Swapo Party offices in Rundu
The small group argue that their parents did not risk their lives in the country's war for independence for their children to suffer as they do now.
A group of 19 ‘struggle kids’ who have been camping at the Swapo Party Kavango East regional office in Rundu since July say that government must employ them as their parents’ fight for the country’s freedom has allowed Namibia's current leaders to sit in comfortable air-conditioned offices.
The group has been living in the parking lot of the multimillion-dollar Swapo office since 30 July.
They argue that there were no educational requirements placed on their parents to sacrifice their lives for the attainment of independence.
Sacrifices
The war veterans’ children say that they are entitled to be employed permanently in the public sector.
"Where was the need to be trained or have an education when our parents went into exile? When our parents went, all they were given was a gun and they had to fight. When they came back, they could not look after us as we deserved, and now we are being told that qualifications are important to get a job," one of the struggle kids said.
"The air-conditioned offices in which they are sitting and making decisions today would not have existed if our parents did not decide to fight for this country, sacrificing their lives."
They argue that Namibia's independence is a result of their parents, who fought a war for liberation with little to no education or qualifications.
Normal procedure
They say that they have been promised employment since 2008 but government has failed to deliver on this promise.
A Cabinet decision to employ struggle kids had been in place through which thousands were employed by the various ministries, before it was put aside by a Windhoek High Court ruling last year.
The group, however, says the majority of them only have Grade 10 qualifications, and most jobs require higher qualifications.
The group has also written a letter to the Office of the Prime Minister in which they say the Swapo Party government failed to take care of their needs.
Court order
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, in a letter dated 2 September to Kavango East regional governor, Bonifatius Wakudumo, said that following the court order, the direct placement of struggle kids cannot happen as was the case before.
"Unfortunately, the direct placement of children of the liberation struggle into the public service has been discontinued as a result of a court order. The children of the liberation struggle are therefore now required to directly apply for vacancies that become available and go through the mandatory screening process. They may apply for assistance from existing government financing schemes," Kuugongelwa-Amadhila explained.
Wakudumo yesterday told Namibian Sun that his office has taken note of the plight of the struggle kids and he is engaging various stakeholders, including the labour ministry, to register the struggle kids and, hopefully, they will be employed in various projects in the region.
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The group has been living in the parking lot of the multimillion-dollar Swapo office since 30 July.
They argue that there were no educational requirements placed on their parents to sacrifice their lives for the attainment of independence.
Sacrifices
The war veterans’ children say that they are entitled to be employed permanently in the public sector.
"Where was the need to be trained or have an education when our parents went into exile? When our parents went, all they were given was a gun and they had to fight. When they came back, they could not look after us as we deserved, and now we are being told that qualifications are important to get a job," one of the struggle kids said.
"The air-conditioned offices in which they are sitting and making decisions today would not have existed if our parents did not decide to fight for this country, sacrificing their lives."
They argue that Namibia's independence is a result of their parents, who fought a war for liberation with little to no education or qualifications.
Normal procedure
They say that they have been promised employment since 2008 but government has failed to deliver on this promise.
A Cabinet decision to employ struggle kids had been in place through which thousands were employed by the various ministries, before it was put aside by a Windhoek High Court ruling last year.
The group, however, says the majority of them only have Grade 10 qualifications, and most jobs require higher qualifications.
The group has also written a letter to the Office of the Prime Minister in which they say the Swapo Party government failed to take care of their needs.
Court order
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, in a letter dated 2 September to Kavango East regional governor, Bonifatius Wakudumo, said that following the court order, the direct placement of struggle kids cannot happen as was the case before.
"Unfortunately, the direct placement of children of the liberation struggle into the public service has been discontinued as a result of a court order. The children of the liberation struggle are therefore now required to directly apply for vacancies that become available and go through the mandatory screening process. They may apply for assistance from existing government financing schemes," Kuugongelwa-Amadhila explained.
Wakudumo yesterday told Namibian Sun that his office has taken note of the plight of the struggle kids and he is engaging various stakeholders, including the labour ministry, to register the struggle kids and, hopefully, they will be employed in various projects in the region.
[email protected]
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