The Penge-Ondola Children Crisis: Time For Namibia and Angola To Act

Every day, motorists who stop at traffic lights in Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Oshakati, Rundu and other Namibian towns are approached by children asking for money.

The same scenes unfold outside shopping malls, supermarkets, shebeens and fuel stations.

For many Namibians, it has become a national concern.

Most of these children are believed to be from neighbouring Angola. Regardless of their nationality, they are children, and children should not be living and working on the streets.

Namibia and Angola enjoy one of the strongest diplomatic relationships in southern Africa.

During Namibia’s liberation struggle, Angola opened its borders to thousands of Namibians, provided refuge, hosted training facilities, and made significant sacrifices in support of Namibia’s independence.

That shared history places a moral responsibility on both nations to work together to address a humanitarian challenge affecting vulnerable children.