Former refugees who have been camping at the Swapo Party headquarters say they will not leave the area without the letter that came from the United Nations outlining repatriation, rehabilitation and resettlement in detail.

This comes despite the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Trade Jenelly Matundu reading out email correspondence between the Ministry and both the current and former UN Resident Coordinators.

The meeting between the Former Refugees Repatriation Association of Namibia and the Ministry ended abruptly after Matundu excused the media to allow for further deliberations with representatives of the association.

During the meeting, Matundu read out correspondence between the Ministry and both the current and former United Nations Resident Coordinators.

The letter from then Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, requesting the same letter that is being demanded from the UN, could not be traced.

In the email communications, the UN maintains that it fulfilled its mandate and advised the group to engage the appropriate channels within the Namibian government to address their demands.

“UN system in Namibia has the honor to inform that the request that UNHCR letter dated 2006 could not be located in UNHCR's registry due to the time lapse over 17 years. Nonetheless, the UNHC are confirmed the validity of the content of Ms. Joyce whole email,” Matundu explained.

President of the Former Refugees Repatriation Association Namibia Matheus Nangolo however expressed his disappointment.

“We hear what you are reading but our purpose to come here was to collect a letter, we need a letter through the general secretary and chief of the United Nations High Commission. I don’t know why people are making us go up and down with (UN resident coordinator in Namibia, Hopolang) Phororo. We need a letter black and white from Geneva not here. 

Matundu, accompanied by Swapo Party Deputy Secretary General Uahekua Herunga, further met with the former refugees at their campsite outside the party headquarters.

The letters were read out to them again, but the process was interrupted by dissatisfied members of the group.

Herunga reminded the group of the agreement for them to vacate the area on Tuesday.

However, they refused to move from the area.