Alarm About Intensified Ethnic Drive
Posted 26th October 2008 at 09:54 PM by NSHR
Namibia's National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) remains deeply alarmed by continuous intensification of deep-rooted racial hatred directed against the Ovakwanyama people of Namibia.
On October 22 2008 Office of the President Executive Director and former Ambassador Ndali-Ché Kamati expressed his frustration and dismay over what he inter alia described as an ongoing campaign of "ethnic political cleansing" to rid the ruling Swapo Party, the public service and the Office of the President of ethnic Ovakwanyama people.
Ambassador Kamati warned that the end results and consequences of the anti-Kwanyama drive would negatively affect the unity and cohesiveness of the Swapo Party and may lead not only to weakening the ruling party but also to its possible disintegration.
"Hence, our concerns over the years about a systematic high level anti-Kwanyama drive have now been confirmed in the highest echelons of the political foundations of this country. Although speaking in his personal capacity, it is hard to believe that Ambassador Kamati's alarm is not shared also by the Head of State, President Pohamba, whose office Ambassador Kamati directs. Even though the Minister of Presidential Affairs in the Office of the President is a non-Kwanyama, like Ambassador Kamati, President Pohamba is an ethnic Kwanyama too," noted NSHR executive director Phil ya Nangoloh.
Since 1996 the Namibian human rights monitoring and advocacy organization has recorded several ominous signs of growing racial odium targeting influential members of the Ovakwanyama tribal group in the country's, political, military, police and intelligence establishments. This state of affairs has been manifesting itself through a chronic double-barrel exclusion of ethnic Ovakwanyama people, at the ruling Swapo Party, Government, religious and traditional levels. This includes real or perceived marginalization of the Ohangwena Region in terms of socio-economic development and essential infrastructure, such as roads, healthcare and water facilities.
According to the UNDP (United Nations Development Program)'s Human Development Report for 2007, the Ohangwena Region had one of the lowest ranking in terms of the individual regional human development indices. The Region is communal land of the Ovakwanyama people.
The sentiments of ethno-political cleansing against Ovakwanyama people mounted in 2004, following a series of anonymous hate letters circulated via the internet. While praising former President Sam Nujoma, the mysterious letters demonized ethnic Ovakwanyamas, including Ovakwanyama chieftain Martha Mwadinomho Nelumbu and President Lucas Hifikepunye Pohamba as well as military and police commanders.
On numerous occasions during its monitoring of the highly emotionally charged election rallies that have been occurring in the country since November 2007, NSHR witnessed with utmost concern how loyalists of former Namibian President Sam Nujoma, openly expressed anti-Kwanyama sentiments. This includes persistent vilification of revered past and present Ovakwanyama leaders, such as slain Ovakwanyama king Mandume ya Ndemufayo who died in 1917 and incumbent Ovakwanyama Queen Martha Nelumbu (77) who was enthroned in November 2005.
Racially-motivated songs and slogans, such as: "We are soldiers of and are commanded by Nujoma, Kwanyamas go back to Angola", have become commonplace particularly during the confrontational encounters between Swapo Party activists, on the one side, and Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) activists, on the other. Founded on November 17 2007, RDP is a breakaway movement led by axed former Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya also known as HH. HH is also an ethnic Kwanyama.
"Moreover, widespread public perception, that former President Nujoma is the central figure and engineer behind this contra-Kwanyama drive, has yet to be disproved by Nujoma. As Namibian President, Nujoma unceremoniously axed HH on or around May 25 2004 in a move that has scuttled the latter's presidential candidacy", ya Nangoloh added.
The Ovakwanyama people inhabit both sides of the common border between Angola and Namibia. They are the largest tribal grouping constituting the Ovambo ethnic group. As the dominant political force in the country, the ruling Swapo Party has been deriving most of its political support from the Ovambo people, making up more than 52 percent of Namibia's multi-racial population of 2 million.
During the liberation struggle for Namibian independence, the Ovakwanyama people bore the brunt of the political violence. This is due to the fact the most of military skirmishes between apartheid South African security forces, on the one hand, and the anti-apartheid rebel Swapo troops, on the other, took place on traditional Ovakwanyama territory.
On October 22 2008 Office of the President Executive Director and former Ambassador Ndali-Ché Kamati expressed his frustration and dismay over what he inter alia described as an ongoing campaign of "ethnic political cleansing" to rid the ruling Swapo Party, the public service and the Office of the President of ethnic Ovakwanyama people.
Ambassador Kamati warned that the end results and consequences of the anti-Kwanyama drive would negatively affect the unity and cohesiveness of the Swapo Party and may lead not only to weakening the ruling party but also to its possible disintegration.
"Hence, our concerns over the years about a systematic high level anti-Kwanyama drive have now been confirmed in the highest echelons of the political foundations of this country. Although speaking in his personal capacity, it is hard to believe that Ambassador Kamati's alarm is not shared also by the Head of State, President Pohamba, whose office Ambassador Kamati directs. Even though the Minister of Presidential Affairs in the Office of the President is a non-Kwanyama, like Ambassador Kamati, President Pohamba is an ethnic Kwanyama too," noted NSHR executive director Phil ya Nangoloh.
Since 1996 the Namibian human rights monitoring and advocacy organization has recorded several ominous signs of growing racial odium targeting influential members of the Ovakwanyama tribal group in the country's, political, military, police and intelligence establishments. This state of affairs has been manifesting itself through a chronic double-barrel exclusion of ethnic Ovakwanyama people, at the ruling Swapo Party, Government, religious and traditional levels. This includes real or perceived marginalization of the Ohangwena Region in terms of socio-economic development and essential infrastructure, such as roads, healthcare and water facilities.
According to the UNDP (United Nations Development Program)'s Human Development Report for 2007, the Ohangwena Region had one of the lowest ranking in terms of the individual regional human development indices. The Region is communal land of the Ovakwanyama people.
The sentiments of ethno-political cleansing against Ovakwanyama people mounted in 2004, following a series of anonymous hate letters circulated via the internet. While praising former President Sam Nujoma, the mysterious letters demonized ethnic Ovakwanyamas, including Ovakwanyama chieftain Martha Mwadinomho Nelumbu and President Lucas Hifikepunye Pohamba as well as military and police commanders.
On numerous occasions during its monitoring of the highly emotionally charged election rallies that have been occurring in the country since November 2007, NSHR witnessed with utmost concern how loyalists of former Namibian President Sam Nujoma, openly expressed anti-Kwanyama sentiments. This includes persistent vilification of revered past and present Ovakwanyama leaders, such as slain Ovakwanyama king Mandume ya Ndemufayo who died in 1917 and incumbent Ovakwanyama Queen Martha Nelumbu (77) who was enthroned in November 2005.
Racially-motivated songs and slogans, such as: "We are soldiers of and are commanded by Nujoma, Kwanyamas go back to Angola", have become commonplace particularly during the confrontational encounters between Swapo Party activists, on the one side, and Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) activists, on the other. Founded on November 17 2007, RDP is a breakaway movement led by axed former Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya also known as HH. HH is also an ethnic Kwanyama.
"Moreover, widespread public perception, that former President Nujoma is the central figure and engineer behind this contra-Kwanyama drive, has yet to be disproved by Nujoma. As Namibian President, Nujoma unceremoniously axed HH on or around May 25 2004 in a move that has scuttled the latter's presidential candidacy", ya Nangoloh added.
The Ovakwanyama people inhabit both sides of the common border between Angola and Namibia. They are the largest tribal grouping constituting the Ovambo ethnic group. As the dominant political force in the country, the ruling Swapo Party has been deriving most of its political support from the Ovambo people, making up more than 52 percent of Namibia's multi-racial population of 2 million.
During the liberation struggle for Namibian independence, the Ovakwanyama people bore the brunt of the political violence. This is due to the fact the most of military skirmishes between apartheid South African security forces, on the one hand, and the anti-apartheid rebel Swapo troops, on the other, took place on traditional Ovakwanyama territory.
In case of additional comment, please call Dorkas Phillemon or Phil ya Nangoloh at Tel: 061 236 183 or 061 253 447 (office hours) or Cell: +264 811 299 641 (Dorkas) or E-mail: nshr@nshr.org.na or visit: www.nshr.org.na
Total Comments 0
Comments
Total Trackbacks 0
