Deputy Minister for marginalised communities under the Office of the President, Royal Ui|o|oo has expressed disappointment in his officials, saying they are failing him in ensuring that the affairs of the San community are addressed.
Ui|o|oo demonstrated his disappointment at the project launch of the ‘Reducing Family Violence in San Communities’ initiative by the Women’s Leadership Centre here on Thursday after San representative communities expressed continuous suffering of violence, exploitation, discrimination and lack of governmental support through earmarked marginalised programmes.
“I am not happy to hear that San communities continue to suffer. I have an open-door policy and if things are not going well, the office was created for the marginalised communities. I am hearing of some of the issues for the first time, which means my officials under me are failing me,” fumed Ui|o|oo.
Women’s Leader Centre (WLC) Community Facilitator for San communities in Kavango East and Kavango West Regions, Palricia Dinyando, said San communities continue to suffer from violence and exploitation, stressing that government’s programmes earmarked to address their issues are not yielding the desired outcomes.
Dinyando fumed that San community members are mistreated by farm owners, government officials and community members, noting that the societal discrimination of San people limits them from living equally in the Namibian house.
“Our children are used as cattle herders and nannies, while others are going to school. People are taking in San children saying they will take care of them but just exploit them. Government officials are equally mistreating us. We want to be heard and treated like any [other] Namibian,” she said.
Community Facilitator for the Omaheke Region, Maria Garises, stressed that the support San communities receive mostly comes from non-governmental organisations, saying the government continues to fail at bringing key services to these communities.
“Why are we suffering? Is it because of our hair? San people are peaceful people by nature, but we are living in violence which is like a disease and it is killing us. We have joined this project to stand together because the time is now to be given a chance just like any other Namibian,” she noted.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
