San families battle unemployment

GOBABIS, 15 JUL  – Young San women in the Omaheke Region are one of the groups hardest hit by unemployment, a regional consultative meeting held here concluded.
The meeting on the rights of young San women was held on Thursday by the Women’s Leadership Centre (WLC), a feminist organisation that works with San women and girls in advancing their human rights.
The dialogue was also convened to gauge the region’s performance and conformity with the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
It came to light during the event, through the testimonies of various young San women, that they are severely affected by the lack of employment opportunities available to them.
San Chief Frederick Langman, who also spoke during the event, said the economic situation of his people has reached alarming levels which calls for immediate remedy.
He said unemployment has increased the levels of alcohol abuse, as most San people are found wandering the informal settlements in which they live with nothing meaningful to do.
Langman said it appears as if the San are still living in pre-independence Namibia, as many of them are yet to fully integrate into the mainstream of society despite Government’s efforts.
The issue of unemployment, he said, does not help the situation either.
“We are still living in South West Africa, as many are still to see the benefits of independence. I know government is doing a lot for us, but the effects of unemployment on my people are adverse and real,” he said.
Women present during the meeting called for a full roll-out of the Basic Income Grant to all their settlement to assist them in taking care of themselves and their families.
Maria Garises, who spoke on behalf of others, said although many San people do not have high school qualifications, odd jobs such as pruning of trees and domestic work could assist them.
She said to expect San people to compete for such work with others with higher qualifications, is depriving the San of an opportunity to make a living.
“We need to assist each other as Namibians; San people are gifted in many areas and can be used as handy men and domestic helpers,” she said.
CEDAW was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 1979, and entered into force as an international treaty on 03 September 1981.
The spirit of the convention is rooted in the goals of the United Nations – to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights and in equal rights of men and women.
The Women’s Leadership Centre facilitates the voice of marginalised young women through participatory research, training, writing, photography and the publishing of critical feminist text.

NAMPA