'Honour Ya Toivo legacy'
Namibians have been implored to honour the legacy of struggle icon Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo through action.
The best way Namibians can honour Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo's memory is to continue his legacy and fight against the high levels of inequality, tribalism and corruption.
In paying tribute to her late husband, Vicki Erenstein-Ya Toivo urged mourners at his memorial to pick up the baton in the fight against inequality by working to eliminate all forms of corruption and greed.
She said the independence gained could not be enjoyed if society's leaders did not work to narrowing the spread between the rich and the poor. “We must cherish this unity and nurture it.
This means tribalism has no place in our society. We are Namibians first and should not allow ourselves to be divided,” she said. “The unity of our people also requires us to wage war against the vast gap between the few rich and the masses of the poor amongst our people.
The unity of our people is the most important precondition to obtain the goals that we have set for ourselves. The shameful end of income inequality that exists in Namibia today undermines the dignity for which we struggled and is the major obstacle to achieving our aspirations.
This should be the central and daily preoccupation of our political leaders and of the leaders and members of our institutions of our private sector and our civil society.” She called on Namibians to be respectful and re-dedicate efforts towards fighting inequality.
“We cannot maintain and nurture unity if we permit inequality to fester. We must respect each other as Namibians and as one as world citizens. We must dedicate ourselves to work for the common welfare of our people until we achieve total economic emancipation,” said Erenstein-Ya Toivo. She said the only means to safeguard the country's independence was through hard work and to fight corruption.
“This means that we must work harder to eliminate corruption, selfishness and, greed and intolerance from our society. This is how we will safeguard our precious peace and we will go forward to become a nation whose people will enjoy the fruits of independence,” she said in her final tribute to her revered husband.
Ya Toivo died on 9 June at his Windhoek home and was laid to rest at the Heroes Acre at the weekend. President Hage Geingob reiterated Erenstein-Ya Toivo's sentiments and said a new enemy existed. “As Africans, we have a new common enemy of inequality, poverty and corruption.
We are required to unite again to fight this common enemy to enable our people to enjoy the fruits of our hard won freedom,” said Geingob.
“Let us emulate his venerable character and fight for a fair and inclusive society where we honour and respect the living and the dead,” added Geingob. Geingob also called Namibians to honour Ya Toivo through action and not through words.
“I would like to call all Namibians to honour this hero of the struggle. An appropriate way to honour him is through purposeful actions to improve the challenges we face as a nation.
Let us emulate his exemplary character and fight tooth and nail to banish from our society, the counter revolutionary practises of the 'ism's, tribalism, racism and sexism.”
OGONE TLHAGE
In paying tribute to her late husband, Vicki Erenstein-Ya Toivo urged mourners at his memorial to pick up the baton in the fight against inequality by working to eliminate all forms of corruption and greed.
She said the independence gained could not be enjoyed if society's leaders did not work to narrowing the spread between the rich and the poor. “We must cherish this unity and nurture it.
This means tribalism has no place in our society. We are Namibians first and should not allow ourselves to be divided,” she said. “The unity of our people also requires us to wage war against the vast gap between the few rich and the masses of the poor amongst our people.
The unity of our people is the most important precondition to obtain the goals that we have set for ourselves. The shameful end of income inequality that exists in Namibia today undermines the dignity for which we struggled and is the major obstacle to achieving our aspirations.
This should be the central and daily preoccupation of our political leaders and of the leaders and members of our institutions of our private sector and our civil society.” She called on Namibians to be respectful and re-dedicate efforts towards fighting inequality.
“We cannot maintain and nurture unity if we permit inequality to fester. We must respect each other as Namibians and as one as world citizens. We must dedicate ourselves to work for the common welfare of our people until we achieve total economic emancipation,” said Erenstein-Ya Toivo. She said the only means to safeguard the country's independence was through hard work and to fight corruption.
“This means that we must work harder to eliminate corruption, selfishness and, greed and intolerance from our society. This is how we will safeguard our precious peace and we will go forward to become a nation whose people will enjoy the fruits of independence,” she said in her final tribute to her revered husband.
Ya Toivo died on 9 June at his Windhoek home and was laid to rest at the Heroes Acre at the weekend. President Hage Geingob reiterated Erenstein-Ya Toivo's sentiments and said a new enemy existed. “As Africans, we have a new common enemy of inequality, poverty and corruption.
We are required to unite again to fight this common enemy to enable our people to enjoy the fruits of our hard won freedom,” said Geingob.
“Let us emulate his venerable character and fight for a fair and inclusive society where we honour and respect the living and the dead,” added Geingob. Geingob also called Namibians to honour Ya Toivo through action and not through words.
“I would like to call all Namibians to honour this hero of the struggle. An appropriate way to honour him is through purposeful actions to improve the challenges we face as a nation.
Let us emulate his exemplary character and fight tooth and nail to banish from our society, the counter revolutionary practises of the 'ism's, tribalism, racism and sexism.”
OGONE TLHAGE
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