Nangula Shejavali
3 December 2008
THE 112 'Children of the Liberation Struggle', who were relocated to a Swapo property 20 kilometres outside Windhoek, say their tents there are "much nicer than the Veterans' Ministry offices".
The Namibian yesterday visited the group, who have been at the new camp for two weeks now and say they are happy with their new situation.
"It feels the same as when we were in exile," said Peter Iiyambo, information officer of the group's committee, "and it's nice because it reminds us of where we came from."
"Our aim was not to be in town, but to have our demands addressed," he added.
The group had been squatting on the pavement outside the offices of the Ministry of Veterans' Affairs for two and a half months before being served with a High Court order evicting them from the site owned by TransNamib.
To prevent their probable arrest had they ignored the order, the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) relocated them to the property near the Mix Camp settlement, at first saying that they would be taken to the Sam Nujoma stadium to prevent others from joining them at their final destination.
The site is made up of nine tents, and a container that serves as the bathroom.
The bush serves as the toilet.
There is water on tap, and to take a bath, one need only point a hosepipe at the container bathroom.
The youths have divided themselves into the various tents, which serve as mixed dormitories, and Iiyambo emphasises that men and women have separate beds and blankets.
The group have also drawn up a list of rules, among them: no alcohol, no drugs, and no insulting or swearing at each other.
Roll call is taken every evening, and according to the rules, all are expected to be 'home' by 19h00.
With regard to food, "it's good, it's enough," said Iiyambo.
The food is supplied by the SPYL.
"We eat porridge, macaroni, rice, fish, and so on, and they bring a big amount of food every three days or so.
We're divided into three groups, and within those groups cooking duties are assigned."
The group is still awaiting the resumption of the registration process in the Khomas Region, which was suspended two days into the process after tensions flared between administrators and registrants.
But according to Iiyambo, only about 10 members in their group still need to be registered.
During the countrywide registration process, 8 335 people born in exile were registered.
Iiyambo said the group expected to be at the camp for about three months, and in the meantime, "we are just waiting for the registration and verification process to be completed".
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