Speaker warns against regionalism, tribalism

By: CATHERINE SASMAN

THE Speaker of the National Assembly, Theo-Ben Gurirab, says Namibia's body politic is "slowly but surely entering a slippery terrain which is encouraging disunity and regionalism spurned by tribalism and nepotism of the old fashion kind".

Addressing the National Assembly yesterday, Gurirab said these tendencies are "very dangerous" for nation building, political tolerance and mutual respect of public officials at all levels. He said Members of Parliament have to make laws that change the socio-political environment, but added that there is a failure on the fronts of corruption, public administration and service delivery.

Gurirab urged MPs to re-read the Namibian Constitution alongside that of the Swapo Party that addresses nation building and social restructuring, and calls for the combating of retrogressive tendencies of tribalism, ethnicity, nepotism, racism, sexism, chauvinism, regionalism, personality cults, and so on.
"We must walk in tandem with the letter and spirit of the Constitution in particular the preamble.

That is what must inform our thinking and temper our public actions as national leaders at all times, otherwise we would be like imposters and wolves in sheep clothing. Dignified and sustained upliftment is what all our people yearn for all the time and everywhere," said Gurirab.

He said the process of democratisation of the Namibian society requires that the National Assembly, more than Cabinet or the courts, must meet the challenges of sustainable social development and "all-round empowerment".

After Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Kazenambo Kazenambo's outburst against "stupid and hungry Ovambos" that he said are "worse than the Boers", both President Pohamba and other leaders in a veiled manner took him to task – in public – by warning against the divisive nature of tribalism, ethnicity, and regionalism.

Sources within the Swapo Party circles said Kazenambo has been "dealt with" within the party, but was so far not publicly castigated by the party's leadership over his utterances.

Opening the fifth session of the fifth Parliament on Tuesday, President Pohamba stressed that leaders must provide exemplary leadership, uphold respect for human rights and equality.

Pohamba also impressed it upon MPs that they are not only tasked with the legislative function, but also have the "sacred duty" to pass fair, just, well-researched and thoroughly debated laws.

"I personally understood the President not only to have affirmed our collective mandate and duty to serve the public interests but actually saying to the House to do more so that the citizens are truly satisfied and acclaim service delivery and outreach contacts".