Immigrant children forced to leave school

Immigrant children forced to leave school ILENI NANDJATO

The children of illegal immigrants had to drop out of school to be deported back to Angola with their parents.

Immigration officials at Opuwo in the Kunene Region yesterday deported more than 200 illegal immigrants of Otjizemba descent to Angola.

Yesterday morning 130 men were transported from the Opuwo police station, while over 80 women and children waited for a second trip.

The group included children who had been attending school in Namibia.

Some of the illegal immigrants said they were leaving behind other children who are in school hostels.

“I have been in Namibia for three years. I have three school-going children, two of whom are in hostels, while this one stays home with me,” said Hondjorokeni Kazu.

“This one is in grade 2 at Ombombo Primary School and I was forced to take her out of school so I can go back with her. I have to leave the other two because I was not given enough time to go get them from their school, which is very far.”

Other immigrants said they had come to Namibia to do business, look for work or receive hospital treatment.

“I was found in the street with others selling our products from Angola. We do have documents, but apparently our documents are not valid,” Ilena Mbatutu said.

From 7 October immigration officials with the assistance of the police in the Kunene Region have been rounding up illegal immigrants at Khorixas, Kamanjab and Opuwo. Hundreds of people were found to be without valid documents to stay in Namibia.

Deputy Commissioner Jaron Iita of the Kunene police told Namibian Sun yesterday that the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration initiated the operation and police assisted them.

Immigration officials and Angolan consulate staff screened those who were found without documents to verify their nationality.

“The immigration tribunal court granted a deportation order on Tuesday for the Angolans to be deported yesterday morning. The police and immigration officials will hand them over to Angolan authorities at the border. They are peaceful people and have not done anything wrong besides not having documents to stay here,” Iita said.

The immigration officials refuse to give details on the immigrants and efforts to get comment from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration spokesperson, Salome Kambala, also failed.