China warns against ‘xenophobia’

Kenya Kambowe RUNDUChina says the forced removal of Charlie Xie Min as exclusive advisor to Kavango East governorBonifatius Wakudumo is a purely Namibian internal affair, but its embassy in Windhoek hastened to warn Namibians against xenophobia, which it says can hurt relations between the two nations.Wakudumo rescinded the extraordinary appointment amid protests by Kavango East and a nationwide outcry, which included calls for President Hage Geingob to fire the governor.Wakudumo apologised for the appointment, which he maintains was not ill-intended.Geingob has been given 15 days from the day of the protests in Rundu to remove Wakudumo as governor, but in his New Year’s address last Thursday evening, the head of state strongly hinted that he would not sack the governor."I have regrettably noted with concern that there is an increasing aversion towards foreign investment by certain sectors of our society. As of recent, we have witnessed investors being received with hostility, either through negative reporting or through accusatory rhetoric,” Geingob said, believed to be in reference to the Kavango East events.China won’t interfereSpokesperson of the Chinese embassy in Namibia, Lu Hairong, told Namibian Sun’s sister publication Republikein: “As far as I know, Charlie Xie Min became a naturalised Namibia citizen [a] long time ago, thus the appointment and removal of his consultant position is purely an internal affair of Namibia.”She added: “China always follows the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs. China never imposes its will upon others. The friendly cooperation between China and Namibia has always been carried out under the premise of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, which has brought tangible benefits to both peoples.“We respect the right of the Namibian people to express their appeals peacefully. We also hope that the Namibian friends could view the China-Namibia cooperation rationally, and be vigilant against individual people inciting xenophobia, so as to avoid unintentionally hurting the feelings of local Chinese friends.” ‘Kavango revolution’Disgruntled residents of the two Kavango regions have vowed to take action against any leader who overlooks the interest of the masses for their personal gratification, citing the dawn of the ‘Kavango revolution’.The appointment of Xie also comes at a time when the people of the Kavango regions are demanding to be considered for positions in higher offices based on the manner in which they overwhelmingly vote for the ruling Swapo party during elections.Demonstrators described Wakudumo as unfit for office and also accused him of allegedly being a divisive leader, a ‘sell-out’ and an ‘imperialist agent’.Spokesperson of the protesters Petersen Kambinda did not mince words on the day of the protest as he sent out a stern warning to leaders in the community who do not have the interest of the Kavango people at heart.He said the notion of people from the Kavango regions being known as ‘goeie mense’ [good people] has come to an end.‘Kavango is awake’“Anybody who’s got any intention to take a decision which is not in the best interest of Kavango, that person from today onwards will be taken to task because Kavango is now awake,” Kambinda said.“From here onwards, nobody will take us for a ride. Take today as day one of the revolution of Kavango people. We are no longer goeie mense.”Petitioners questioned why Wakudumo saw it fit to appoint Xie, a Chinese-born national, to be his exclusive advisor at the expense of locals.“We know for a fact before one considers to look for expatriates or foreigners, we have to see that we the locals don’t have that specific skill. Having said this, what skills does this Charlie guy have that we cannot get in the Kavango East, in the 121 constituencies and the 14 regions of this wealthy nation of Namibia?” the protestors’ petition read.kenya@namibiansun.com

China warns against ‘xenophobia’

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Namibian Sun 2026-01-13

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China warns against ‘xenophobia’

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Namibian Sun 2026-01-13

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