According to the provincial commander of Huíla of the National Police, Divaldo Martins, quoted by the Angop news agency, the two men, who claimed to care for the children "out of solidarity", were arrested on Wednesday.
The police suspect that children were forced to beg on the streets of Lubango, subjected to forced labor and prostitution.
Divaldo Martins said that spaces were found in at least three neighborhoods, all in Lubango, the capital of Huíla, that shelter vulnerable children, mostly of the Muila ethnic group, who go through situations of "absolute precariousness".
In a concerted action, the police in Huíla and the neighboring province of Namibe will step up enforcement on the border between the two regions, to prevent the transport of children without proper authorization, a measure that will also be adopted between the municipalities of Chibia, Lubango and Humpata , considered the entrance corridor to the capital of Huíla.
In view of the seriousness of the situation, Divaldo Martins stressed that the government authorities created an emergency program to identify the locations and minors who are in this condition, with a view to their family reintegration.
In the past few months, children from villages in Chibia, Humpata, Gambos and the surrounding area of Lubango, who have difficulties in expressing themselves in Portuguese, have remained at supermarkets, shops and restaurants, while others wander the city streets asking for help. alms.
