Namibia celebrates Commonwealth Day

Deputy Prime Minister Marco Hausiku says Namibia continues to appreciate Commonwealth initiatives that benefit Namibian people. Speaking during the Commonwealth Day commemoration in Windhoek yesterday, he said the technical assistance rendered to government ministries has been very beneficial and such efforts can only be encouraged to continue. “Namibia joins Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and other member countries of the Commonwealth family in celebrating Commonwealth Day and in so doing Namibia reaffirms its commitment to the core values and principles of the Commonwealth. As affirmed in the Namibian constitution, we continue to promote peace and security at home and internationally,” said Hausiku. He said in order to strengthen cooperation among Commonwealth nations and maintain the visibility of the Commonwealth, nations must promote expanded economic south-south co-operation, adding that he has no doubt that Commonwealth missions in Namibia will work with Namibia in attaining this objective. Hausiku also said Namibia looks forward to this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, saying he has no doubt that the Namibian team will make the country proud and strengthen unity and cultural diversity in the Commonwealth. “The Glasgow Games will not only unify the Commonwealth family but will also be a platform to foster greater understanding of the role of the Commonwealth’s family, particularly among young people,” said the Deputy PM. Speaking at the same occasion, South Africa’s High Commissioner to Namibia, Yvette Myakayaka-Manzini, said while national teams will be concentrating on the Games in August, Team Commonwealth will have a wider focus, working together to achieve a more enduring success. “Experiences of life differ widely throughout the Commonwealth, and we each make contributions from sometimes very different viewpoints but we are committed to the same goals and together we offer each other encouragement and draw strength from this mutual support. The understanding that we belong together and are able through teamwork to achieve far more than we would alone has always been at the heart of our approach and for us this is now captured in the Commonwealth Charter, which sets out the values and principles that guide and motivate us,” she said. She added that this year, children and young people participated in Commonwealth celebrations and advances in technology enabled the world to reach a greater number of young people in schools, online through the Commonwealth Class Initiative and through events in local communities where the Commonwealth flag was raised. “People of all ages from different cultures are weaving an ever-growing network of links which connect us in our diversity and our common purpose, and it is this unity that is expressed in this year’s theme ‘Team Commonwealth’,” she said.