Africa-Press – Namibia. TWO weeks after a group of Angolan immigrants were expected to be repatriated to their country from Etunda in the Omusati region, the whereabouts of nearly 500 of them is “unknown”.
According to Etunda village secretary Joseph Shiininge, 1 792 Angolan migrants were registered to be repatriated to their country but only 1 300 have gone back.
He said the whereabouts of the others is unknown. “I see some of them at a location at Etunda. They have put up tents in the area where they sleep,” Shiininge said.
He added that he has not visited the site yet but he believes many work at the Etunda irrigation project. “They are not given food there but they go work at Etunda,” he added.
Ruacana constituency councillor Andreas Shintama said his office is not aware of migrants who are camping at Omunyele (local cucashops situated nearby).
“We work together with the traditional authorities. If they did not inform my office then I will not know,” Shintama said. Contacted for a comment, Omusati regional governor Erginus Endjala said his office is also not aware of the migrants camping at Etunda.
Endjala said there was a registration done at Etunda, and a total of 3 230 migrants were counted. He added that in the process, some opted to repatriate themselves back to their country.
“Only 1 792 migrants remained and were all repatriated. Maybe those who are there are those who were in villages and missed the registration. All these are possibilities,” Endjala said.
Endjala added that Angolan nationals are scattered around different towns and not only at Omusati. “There are those who voluntarily go back and you cannot force them to leave, you do not have the mandate to say go back,” Endajala said.
If we force them to go back, we are violating their rights as humans,” he said. Omusati police regional commander, commissioner Titus Shikongo said he is not aware of these migrants but there are some Angolans in the area of Etunda.
Angolans started moving to Namibia in small numbers in February last year in search of food because their villages had not received enough rain over the past three years.
Many of the Angolans, especially children, were severely malnourished when they arrived in Namibia and displayed swollen stomachs and skin conditions. The Office of the Prime Minister, individuals, non-governmental organisations and business people previously donated food to the groups.
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