Nujoma denounces same-sex marriage
Former president Sam Nujoma has condemned same-sex marriage, saying he agrees that this is not the kind of freedom the Namibian people had in mind when they fought for independence.
Nujoma made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf by Ruacana constituency councillor Andreas Shintama at the Omagongo Cultural Festival at Ohamautsi village in the Omusati Region on Saturday.
Oshituthi shomagongo brings together communities in northern Namibia, where a fermented drink made from marula fruit is consumed.
Norms
Nujoma, who also doubles as the patron of the festival, used the platform to urge Namibians and Africa as a whole to be “vigilant against what he termed alien, foreign norms and values”, which he claimed are being imposed on the nation and are contrary to African cultural norms and traditions.
"I want to join the eight traditional authorities in the north and many Namibians in condemning the same-sex marriage agenda that is being advanced in our country, and I concur with Immanuel /Gâseb, the acting chairman of the council of traditional leaders, when he said that this is not the kind of freedom Namibian people had in mind when they fought for total liberation, not in this country," he said.
Nujoma urged traditional leaders to continue promoting cultural heritage and instilling norms and values in the youth so they could build a strong nation.
"As I have stated on numerous occasions, a nation without culture is like a tree without roots," he said.
Little interest
The former president has been known to publicly condemn homosexuality, and in 2001 he called on the police to arrest, deport and imprison gays and lesbians, as homosexual behaviour "will not be allowed in Namibia".
Nujoma’s remarks come after a national demonstration against same-sex marriages, which was scheduled for Friday.
In Ondangwa and Oshakati, less than five people showed up to handover a petition to Oshana governor Elia Irimari.
Pastor Samuel Hendricks of the Redeem Christian Church, based in Ongwediva, showed up at the demonstration alone on Friday to handover a petition to Irimari.
Hendricks said they are against the ruling because Namibia is a Christian nation. He said their bone of contention is that they were not consulted before a decision was taken.
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Nujoma made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf by Ruacana constituency councillor Andreas Shintama at the Omagongo Cultural Festival at Ohamautsi village in the Omusati Region on Saturday.
Oshituthi shomagongo brings together communities in northern Namibia, where a fermented drink made from marula fruit is consumed.
Norms
Nujoma, who also doubles as the patron of the festival, used the platform to urge Namibians and Africa as a whole to be “vigilant against what he termed alien, foreign norms and values”, which he claimed are being imposed on the nation and are contrary to African cultural norms and traditions.
"I want to join the eight traditional authorities in the north and many Namibians in condemning the same-sex marriage agenda that is being advanced in our country, and I concur with Immanuel /Gâseb, the acting chairman of the council of traditional leaders, when he said that this is not the kind of freedom Namibian people had in mind when they fought for total liberation, not in this country," he said.
Nujoma urged traditional leaders to continue promoting cultural heritage and instilling norms and values in the youth so they could build a strong nation.
"As I have stated on numerous occasions, a nation without culture is like a tree without roots," he said.
Little interest
The former president has been known to publicly condemn homosexuality, and in 2001 he called on the police to arrest, deport and imprison gays and lesbians, as homosexual behaviour "will not be allowed in Namibia".
Nujoma’s remarks come after a national demonstration against same-sex marriages, which was scheduled for Friday.
In Ondangwa and Oshakati, less than five people showed up to handover a petition to Oshana governor Elia Irimari.
Pastor Samuel Hendricks of the Redeem Christian Church, based in Ongwediva, showed up at the demonstration alone on Friday to handover a petition to Irimari.
Hendricks said they are against the ruling because Namibia is a Christian nation. He said their bone of contention is that they were not consulted before a decision was taken.
- [email protected]
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