Eatery at centre of racism storm

A group of Zimbabwean medical students are said to have suffered great embarrassment while in the country for a seminar organised by the University of Namibia after they were thrown out of a Klein Windhoek restaurant recently.
The incident, which has reportedly divided Unam’s School of Medicine, is currently the subject of an investigation by the university.
Namibian Sun has learned that the Unam School of Medicine has been desperately trying to keep the embarrassing incident under wraps, after students accused the organisers of the symposium of endorsing racism.
They are accused of watching on as a female Zimbabwean student was allegedly manhandled by the owner of the restaurant. One student created a fake Facebook account where the student posted at length about the incident following a meeting with management.
According to the post, on 6 July, the organising committee of the International Association of Student Surgery Societies (IASSS) and the Southern African Student Surgery Societies (SASSS) Symposium, which was hosted by Unam, held a social event where they took delegates from all over the world to Andy’s Pub and Restaurant in Klein Windhoek.
It is alleged that after arriving and being seated, the owner of the eatery approached the table where the Zimbabwean delegation was seated. He then allegedly manhandled one of the delegates and took her out of the venue, while shouting at others at the table to leave.
“Everyone who was in the vicinity just stared as the only group of black patrons in the pub was kicked out. The organisers in charge of the social event did not even bother to check on the wellbeing of their guests who were now standing outside,” the student alleged.
According to the student, after standing outside in shock, the Zimbabwean delegation then returned to their hotel while the organisers remained at the pub and continued with the social event.
Yesterday, Andrew Thomson of Andy’s confirmed the incident but said the students were thrown out because they didn’t order anything.
“You’re talking sh*t. My wife is black. They were sitting and not ordering anything. It’s my place. I can throw people out if I want to. That’s bull sh*t, this is a place that must make money, they can’t just sit and not order anything,” he said.
One of the students, however, insisted that it was a racist act, saying only the black group was thrown out.
Unam spokesperson John Haufiku said Unam was aware of the incident, but details were still sketchy.
“We are almost done with taking statements from everyone involved, including international students, so we can get a true picture of what really happened. We will only then release a statement to indicate the university’s position,” Haufiku said.

GORDON JOSEPH