Namibia celebrates Commonwealth Day

Namibia celebrates Commonwealth Day together with the other 55 Commonwealth countries today with cultural events, school activities and faith-based services.

This day is being held this year under the theme ‘Unlocking opportunities together for a prosperous Commonwealth’ and aims to draw attention to how countries and communities can join forces for the benefit of people’s quality of life by, among others, creating gainful employment and expanding access to quality education.

In his message for Commonwealth Day, King Charles III, the Head of the Commonwealth, said: “We unite on this Commonwealth Day at a time of great challenges and great possibilities. Across our world, communities and countries face the growing pressures of conflict, climate change and rapid transformation. Yet it is often in such testing moments that the enduring spirit of the Commonwealth is revealed most clearly.”

DIASPORA

Various countries will commemorate this day in various ways.

In Antigua and Barbuda, cultural performances and children’s choirs will commemorate the day, while various councils across the United Kingdom (UK) will hold flag-raising ceremonies. In Tonga, schoolchildren will gather for special readings, and in the Maldives a social media campaign will spotlight the role of women in development.

At Westminster Abbey in London, the King and members of the UK’s royal family, together with the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey; leaders; foreign ministers of the Commonwealth and dignitaries will attend a traditional multi-faith service.

In her first Commonwealth Day message, Botchwey said: “Commonwealth Day is both a celebration and a promise. I hope that each of us can, on this Commonwealth Day, take part in a celebration of enduring bonds across oceans and generations and renew our promise that we – despite the uncertainty of our time – choose cooperation over division, dialogue over discord and partnership over isolation.”

About a third of the world’s population forms part of the Commonwealth.