Caprivian protesters reject Zambezi Region

WINDHOEKFAITH SANKWASA

A small group of Katima Mulilo residents took to the streets yesterday in protest against the renaming of Caprivi to the Zambezi Region and have demanded that a referendum be held.
About 55 demonstrators, led by members of the Concerned Caprivians group, demanded that President Hifikepunye Pohamba reverse his decision to rename the region.
The region was formerly named after Count Leo von Caprivi, who was the German Chancellor from 1890 to 1894.
Pohamba also renamed the Schuckmannsburg area to its original name of Luhonono and split the vast Linyanti Constituency into two, with one constituency named after liberation struggle hero Judea Lyaboloma.
The Kabbe Constituency was also split in two.
The demonstrators claimed yesterday that the people of Caprivi, including traditional chiefs and other leaders, were not asked whether they supported the name change or not.
A petition read by Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) politician Robert Matongela, who is also the group's deputy chairperson, said the renaming "does not reflect the opinion and vision of the masses of Caprivians".
The petition demanded shifting the regional border to Andara "for the sake of respecting colonial boundaries".
It said Caprivi has a unique history when compared to the country's other regions.
The group further demanded that a referendum on the name change be held.
"All peace-loving Caprivians, in politics and trade, have risen today to demonstrate against the imposed name change to Zambezi and other unilateral decisions taken by the regional council, Delimitation Commission and the government of the day," said Matongela.
He said there was a conflict of interest, and that Pohamba's decision was unconstitutional, as no president, minister or other government official could propose to a name change, only the people of Caprivi.
The petition was received by Zambezi Regional Governor Lawrence Sampofu's advisor Ignatius Nkunga, who told the demonstrators that their concerns will be forwarded to the relevant authorities.
Nkunga was in the company of parliamentarian Bernard Sibalatani and regional council officials.