Outapi — A GROUP of 'children of the liberation struggle' have been camping outside the Swapo regional office at Outapi in the Omusati Region since late last week, demanding employment by the government.

Their spokesperson, Matilde Ndahafa Amutenya, told The Namibian that they got together at Tsandi early on Wednesday morning and marched 35 kilometres to Outapi to hand over a petition to the party's regional coordinator, Erkki Endjala, who promised to forward the petition to the relevant authorities.

In the petition, Amutenya said, they asked the government for jobs because they have been without employment for too long.

They accuse the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture of failing to deliver on its promises of public service jobs made when it registered them in 2008 and 2009.

Amutenya said the group from Omusati did not take part in demonstrations conducted by others from Oshana and Khomas in 2008, 2009 and 2012 because they opted to wait for the government to keep its promises.

She said those from Oshana and Khomas who had demonstrated and marched were now getting jobs, and that the 'struggle children' in Omusati now regretted that they had not joined the protests.

"We will camp here until our demands for employment are met," said Amutenya.

They want to meet with Prime Minister Hage Geingob, Defence Minister Nahas Angula and Youth Minister Jerry Ekandjo to discuss their situation.

The protesters are from 12 constituencies of Omusati, namely Outapi, Anamulenge, Ruacana, Onesi, Tsandi, Okahao, Otamanzi, Elim, Oshikuku, Etayi, Ogongo and Okalongo, according to another member of the group, Sam Shitana.