Stefanus Nashama
Minors that have been spotted selling wooden products around streets and shopping malls of the capital city for months are nowhere to be seen anymore.
The kids who are popularly believed to hail from neighbouring Angola, were mostly seen selling knobkieries, cups, and spoons while also begging for money and food from members of the public and motorists at traffic intersections around the city and other towns in Namibia.
Hordes of these children attracted public attention with some calling on the Namibian government to come to their aid by providing them with shelter and education.
Windhoek-based lawyer, Kadhila Amoomo even wrote to President Nangolo Mbumba raising issues regarding the apparent child labour crisis in Namibia.
In the letter, Amoomo emphasised the violation of children’s rights, including protection from forced labour, economic exploitation, and hazardous work.
Amoomo labelled the incident a “child labour crisis on the streets of Namibia” and asserted that such practices breach numerous articles of the United Nations International Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the International Labour Organization Convention concerning the worst forms of child labour.
The lawyer called for immediate government action to protect these children from physical harm, exploitation, and psychological trauma.
He emphasized the need for measures to ensure their well-being and proper development, including access to food, shelter, and education.
However, for more than five weeks now, these kids have not been seen in the streets of Windhoek, and nobody seems to know about their whereabouts.
When contacted on the matter, Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Warfare, Doreen Sioka, promised to respond to the matter; but only after making a ministerial submission in Parliament.
“It is not that I am refusing to comment now but I have a submission to give in Parliament tomorrow. After that I will get back to you,” she said.
When the Windhoek Observer followed up a week later, the minister said she could not comment because she was out of the country, in New York, in the United States of America.
“I am even far in New York my dear, I cannot comment,” the Minister said.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, Lukas Haufiku, referred this publication to the Angolan Embassy.
“The Ministry is not in a position to comment on the matter. All questions related to Angolan kids should be addressed to their Embassy,” said Haufiku.
Inspector-General of the Namibian Police Force, Lieutenant-General Joseph Shikongo, said he deals with issues affecting the whole country. Therefore, such questions should be directed to Windhoek City Police.
Head of City Police Chief Leevi Ileka, said he is not in the position to comment on such a matter.
“We also do not see them, but we are not in a better position to comment,” he said.
Similarly, Ileka referred this publication back to the Ministry of Gender Equality.
The Angolan Embassy did not respond to questions sent to them.
A source who works at the Angolan Embassy in Oshakati said the kids might have been taken back to where they originally came from, but questions surrounding who took them, where, how and when should be addressed by the office in Windhoek.
