Govt taking detour on KK issue

The dust around Youth Minister Kazenambo Kazenambo’s utterances refuses to settle. President Hifikepunye Pohamba is seemingly reluctant to call his Minister to order, inadvertently leaving such responsibility to some of his senior leaders who come up with bizarre excuses for the Youth Minister’s actions.

Premier Nahas Angula has, in an interview with a local daily newspaper, blamed the writers of the country’s supreme law – the constitution – for not adequately catering for the rights of the minorities.

However, in its Preamble, the Constitution refers twice to ‘We, the people of Namibia’, leaving out any direct reference to specific tribes. It also states
‘Whereas the said rights include the rights of the individual to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of race, colour, ethnic origin, sex, religion, creed or social or economic justice.’

This clearly includes all Namibians, lest the honourable Prime Minister prefers Kazenambo’s name or that of a minority group such as the Ndonga, should have been mentioned.

It is not only a pity that the ruling party’s leader in Parliament could have thought of a better excuse, but also an embarrassment to Government. Why is it that Kazenambo is the only Cabinet Minister acting like he is the only member of a minority group in Namibia? Did the Government not incorporate all ethnic groups in the Cabinet despite the fact that the ruling party draws most of its support from Oshiwambo speaking Namibians.

It is high time Government leaders address real issues, and stop passing the buck and paying the blame. The PM should be honest and tell the people from where the tribal problem originated. He can start his search at home in the structures of the party. For instance, how is it possible that the majority of Councillors in the Erongo, Hardap and Karas regions are pre-dominantly Oshiwambo speaking?

If the PM wants to address the issue, he should propose to the party that its nomination of Councillors in Regions outside the Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Omusati regions not be dominated by Oshiwambo speaking Namibians. This is not a form of discriminating against the majority group, but rather the inclusiveness of the minority groups.

However, then some of the opposition parties also have to get new facelifts so that their leadership is not dominating by members of the same tribe. In such a way the opportunity will be given to all Namibians to form part of the Government.