16 Mar 2012 - Story by Lorraine Kazondovi
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WINDHOEK - “We are entering a dangerous route and I am scared of what will happen after 2 December this year,” said Bishop Dr Zephania Kameeta.
The respected clergyman was referring to the practice of tribalism and racism and their possible aftermath at the SWAPO congress to elect the presidential successor later in the year for crucial elections slated for 2014.
He made the statement at a poorly attended panel discussion on racism and tribalism at the University of Namibia (UNAM) on Wednesday night.
Guest panellist, Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Hage Geingob, was a no show as well as a number of other invited leaders, according to the organising committee at UNAM.
Mainly students from UNAM and their lecturers as well as a handful of elders attended the discussion.
“These messages are falling on deaf ears,” complained some of the youths present.
Kameeta said the continuation of tribalism and racism is a scandal after 22 years of independence.
“We are destroying our own dreams, including Vision 2030,” he warned.
Panellists, as well as the Editor at The Namibian, Tangeni Amupadhi, expressed annoyance at leaders who are spreading the debate over tribalism to the ignorant masses with statements like “you are in this situation because the Owambos put you here, or you can only do better with an Afrikaner surname”.
Amupadhi said this is a tactic to look for votes and sympathy during campaigns and he is unhappy that tribal identities have become stronger since independence.
“Leader’s roles are to ensure that all citizens prosper and society at large is taken care of,” he emphasised, explaining that tribalism is a symptom hiding real issues such as inequality and poverty.
Another panellist, Namibian musician Shishani Vranckx, said it is difficult to obliterate the history and legacy of a nation, hence the importance of belonging to a tribe, which is part of an individual’s identity.
“It is better to address and get over our differences and accept diversity,” she said. “You should be proud of your heritage, but that should not make you better than the next person,” she said.
Kameeta reiterated that it is not wrong to belong to a tribe or race. However, it becomes a problem when a tribe or race becomes the tribe above all others.
He suggested that not only the language but also the practice of tribalism and racism should be condemned.
“The youth are already doing something as they interact with various tribes as students. We do not choose social groupings. UNAM has created societies where different people can have a platform to communicate and interact,” said a member of the audience in defence of the youth in the country.
Another panellist, UNAM student Maruschka Afrikaner, said her role as a youth is to be the change and not repeat past mistakes. “We rather address economic classes such as a working class and not separate them tribally.”
Amupadhi asked whether politicians are to blame for tribalism since the practice has become prominent after independence.
“Within SWAPO, there is a difference with people from Omusati and those from Ohangwena”, he said.
Dr. Lucy Edwards-Jauch from the Sociology department at UNAM explained that Namibians have never integrated because of economic exclusion. “The elite are still playing the race and tribal cards to prosper,” she said.
“Privileges and exclusions fuel tribalism as well as political mobilisation on ethnic identity, such as those of Mishake Muyongo and the newly formed Kavango political party,” said Edwards-Jauch.
When asked why he did not take issue with Tileni Mongudhi’s tribally loaded question in the Kazenambo-Mongudhi saga, Amupadhi responded that it is wrong for people to say that Aawambo leaders are not criticised and gave the example of RDP President Hidipo Hamutenya who he said was criticised for his political move that allegedly promotes Kwanyama-ism.
The respected clergyman was referring to the practice of tribalism and racism and their possible aftermath at the SWAPO congress to elect the presidential successor later in the year for crucial elections slated for 2014.
He made the statement at a poorly attended panel discussion on racism and tribalism at the University of Namibia (UNAM) on Wednesday night.
Guest panellist, Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Hage Geingob, was a no show as well as a number of other invited leaders, according to the organising committee at UNAM.
Mainly students from UNAM and their lecturers as well as a handful of elders attended the discussion.
“These messages are falling on deaf ears,” complained some of the youths present.
Kameeta said the continuation of tribalism and racism is a scandal after 22 years of independence.
“We are destroying our own dreams, including Vision 2030,” he warned.
Panellists, as well as the Editor at The Namibian, Tangeni Amupadhi, expressed annoyance at leaders who are spreading the debate over tribalism to the ignorant masses with statements like “you are in this situation because the Owambos put you here, or you can only do better with an Afrikaner surname”.
Amupadhi said this is a tactic to look for votes and sympathy during campaigns and he is unhappy that tribal identities have become stronger since independence.
“Leader’s roles are to ensure that all citizens prosper and society at large is taken care of,” he emphasised, explaining that tribalism is a symptom hiding real issues such as inequality and poverty.
Another panellist, Namibian musician Shishani Vranckx, said it is difficult to obliterate the history and legacy of a nation, hence the importance of belonging to a tribe, which is part of an individual’s identity.
“It is better to address and get over our differences and accept diversity,” she said. “You should be proud of your heritage, but that should not make you better than the next person,” she said.
Kameeta reiterated that it is not wrong to belong to a tribe or race. However, it becomes a problem when a tribe or race becomes the tribe above all others.
He suggested that not only the language but also the practice of tribalism and racism should be condemned.
“The youth are already doing something as they interact with various tribes as students. We do not choose social groupings. UNAM has created societies where different people can have a platform to communicate and interact,” said a member of the audience in defence of the youth in the country.
Another panellist, UNAM student Maruschka Afrikaner, said her role as a youth is to be the change and not repeat past mistakes. “We rather address economic classes such as a working class and not separate them tribally.”
Amupadhi asked whether politicians are to blame for tribalism since the practice has become prominent after independence.
“Within SWAPO, there is a difference with people from Omusati and those from Ohangwena”, he said.
Dr. Lucy Edwards-Jauch from the Sociology department at UNAM explained that Namibians have never integrated because of economic exclusion. “The elite are still playing the race and tribal cards to prosper,” she said.
“Privileges and exclusions fuel tribalism as well as political mobilisation on ethnic identity, such as those of Mishake Muyongo and the newly formed Kavango political party,” said Edwards-Jauch.
When asked why he did not take issue with Tileni Mongudhi’s tribally loaded question in the Kazenambo-Mongudhi saga, Amupadhi responded that it is wrong for people to say that Aawambo leaders are not criticised and gave the example of RDP President Hidipo Hamutenya who he said was criticised for his political move that allegedly promotes Kwanyama-ism.
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