EDITORIAL: Spare a thought for ‘exile kids’
To many Namibians, ‘exile kids’ are a nuisance. Their demands for special treatment in terms of jobs and other economic opportunities have caused annoyance, but many of us have not paused long enough to delve into their troubled world of total social mayhem, mental health issues and destitution.
In fact, they are so misunderstood that one of their own – Frieda Ndatipo – was shot dead by the police on 27 August 2014 at the Swapo headquarters where they marched to herald their suffering and make demands. For context, Heroes Day, when politicians stand on podiums to hail the selfless sacrifices of many Namibians who died in the war, was held just the previous day.
An inquest into Ndatipo’s death ended inconclusively in the High Court in 2015, with Judge Christie Liebenberg ruling that she was shot by an unknown person.
It is easy to understand why many Namibians, who themselves are unemployed, feel exile kids do not deserve the automatic front spot in the queue. This is because politicians, many of whom stand to benefit through their own children, did not manage this process with all its due sensitivities.
We have always stated that exile kids, just like their parents, must be vetted and categorised in how they will be assisted. The one-size-fits-all approach, where even the least deserving have been elevated above equally-needy Namibians, has infuriated many. As a result, all exile kids are now looked at through one negative lens, thwarting their genuine appeals for help.
In fact, they are so misunderstood that one of their own – Frieda Ndatipo – was shot dead by the police on 27 August 2014 at the Swapo headquarters where they marched to herald their suffering and make demands. For context, Heroes Day, when politicians stand on podiums to hail the selfless sacrifices of many Namibians who died in the war, was held just the previous day.
An inquest into Ndatipo’s death ended inconclusively in the High Court in 2015, with Judge Christie Liebenberg ruling that she was shot by an unknown person.
It is easy to understand why many Namibians, who themselves are unemployed, feel exile kids do not deserve the automatic front spot in the queue. This is because politicians, many of whom stand to benefit through their own children, did not manage this process with all its due sensitivities.
We have always stated that exile kids, just like their parents, must be vetted and categorised in how they will be assisted. The one-size-fits-all approach, where even the least deserving have been elevated above equally-needy Namibians, has infuriated many. As a result, all exile kids are now looked at through one negative lens, thwarting their genuine appeals for help.
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Namibian Sun
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