A cry for help

ROMANZO STEENKAMP, CHAIRPERSON FOR THE HOMELESS PEOPLES PARLIAMENT WRITES:The holiday season came and went, Xmas decorations are being taken down, the grotesque gloomy faces of homeless people are becoming more visible all over town again.Daily in my search for employment I would see the desperation and despair on the faces of my people as they are also still battling to come to grips with the shock effects of Covid-19. When the Government launched the N$750-00 grant so many were excluded and disadvantage because of lack of documentation and having access to a cellular number. I do not even want to think about my people living in remote areas who are never reached with information and assistance.Wearing masks daily simply does not take away the daily hunger pains. People run away from you, not knowing if you are a human being trying to convey the pain of hunger, or a crook trying to rob you of the little you have left.Economic freedom has become a dream only few can dream.When Namibia went into election mode no politician seems to even acknowledge the fact that homeless people exist. Only one politician incorporated the issue in his speech at the star rally in Walvis Bay?No one even knows that there is such a thing as the Homeless Peoples Parliament (HPP) within the jurisdiction of National Council.More than three years down the line, it looks like the formation of the Homeless Peoples Parliament then was merely done for political gain and to advance political careers. A land conference was held without even inviting role players from the Homeless Peoples Parliament. Mostly people do not even know about our daily struggles on the street and sleeping rough.What a wastage of funds it was. Funds that could have been utilised to invest in one or two buildings that could have served as a safe haven for unemployed citizens, for rough sleepers still out on the street.Looking at the wastage of funds the question of remains when will the economy recover? When will my people have access to land and a roof over their heads?Many big corporate entities has got Corporate Social Responsibility policies in place. Is it being utilised effectively?SOCIAL EVILSUnemployment, homelessness and poverty also contribute to other social evils. Dormant behaviour is getting exposed as the inherent animal instinct comes to the fore as the battle for shelter, food and employment rage on.Many characteristics are highlighted and it range from personality traits to medical conditions. Backstabbing, conspiracies, jealousy, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, sexual and gender based violence and suicide.I would take my current situation as a case study. I call it a new breed of homelessness.Qualified professionals struggle to secure employment. We frequent social media, scanning for jobs, constantly update our CVs and are up early every morning to get the newspapers and find possible employment. We sign up for every possible job search offering, hand in resumes at all possible job agencies, praying and begging for employment. This has become the order of the day.The daily battle to get basics and necessities drive people to extremes. This become a race of survival of the fittest.There is no time to think about self-esteem and safe guarding dignity. One gets to the point where you are forced to publicly beg for food and assistance. It is nerve wrecking to bare your soul like this.Some individuals takes the opportunity to kick a dog that’s lying down, by still lashing out and belittling you instead of just practicing humanity and lend an ear to list to pleas of desperation. Some ungodly individuals also use this as an opportunity to further abuse you, knowing that you are already going through so much, facing so many in adversities.You end up getting a casual job, just to buy a loaf of bread or pay for the roof over your head.During these crucial times there are however also one or two friends that stand by you and lend a hand regularly. One or two entities do come to the rescue, and one is eternally grateful for that privilege.The race is on for survival. It’s time to think outside the box. Al that I, we have left is humanity, dignity, character and the willpower to persevere and survive.I wish all other unemployed Namibians success with their daily battles and their attemps to find employment.

A cry for help

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Republikein 2025-12-15

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A cry for help

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Republikein 2025-12-15

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