Delta celebrates Namibian Independence

THIS weekend the nation celebrated its twenty-first year of Independence and learners at Delta High School in the heart of the capital gathered to hear Deputy Minister of Education Dr. David Namwandi speak about the long road to educational emancipation that Namibia has had to travel.

“Independence was not brought to us on a silver platter – rivers of blood were crossed by the sons and daughters of Namibia,” he said. “Thanks to the dawn of freedom, 1990 witnessed the enrolment of all Namibian children irrespective of colour or origin. “This historic transformation did not only happen at Delta, but at all schools.

Namibia has embraced all its citizens and celebrated as it became a non-racial and non-ethnic society.” Noting the importance of unity, peace and democracy, Namwandi spoke about press freedom and national reconciliation saying that, “ ... as a nation, we must count our blessings and never scratch where it does not itch.

Despite challenges, the Namibian Government is a caring Government,” he said, but although, “it remains true to national reconciliation, that some black and white compatriots who are trying to open up old wounds must be rejected,” he said. Pointing out that since Independence Namibia has allocated the lion’s share of the national budget to education, Namwandi told teachers and learners that hard work is the slogan. “Indiscipline and laxity should have no room in our schools,” he warned.

At the same occasion, former Executive Editor of DMH Chris Jacobie said that; “I am honoured and privileged to share this coming-of-age Namibian Independence celebration with Dr Namwandi, learners, teachers and a school which has a proud history and therefore a glorious future as its destiny,” he said. “The more independent Namibia becomes, the more dependent we are on the youth, and you on each other, to continue the technological and developmental revolution to make a free country a great free country – as great as it can be.

Through our hard and troublesome history, Namibians deserve the best, and with education daily on the forefront of capable and hardworking minds like Dr Namwandi and his Minister, Dr Abraham Iyambo, with the support of the Cabinet and the private sector, no challenge is too big to take on,” he said.

He thanked the youth and the parents for being in the forefront of the future, expressed gratitude to the country’s founding father, and asked for a thought to be spared for Namibian schoolchildren currently stuck in tents in the North due to flooding.

click to enlarge Former Executive Editor of DMH, Chris Jacobie, Education Deputy Minister Dr David Namwandi and Delta Secondary Principal, Jürgen Koch, were welcomed by the pupils in traditional dresses. © Photo: Theo Gurirab