Zambezi is a unifying name – Kawana

WINDHOEK FAITH SANKWASA

Presidential Affairs Minister Albert Kawana has dismissed claims by the Caprivi Concerned Group that residents were not consulted before Caprivi was renamed the Zambezi Region by President Hifikepunye Pohamba.
In an interview with Namibian Sun yesterday he further claimed that Zambezi is a unifying name, which unites all the tribes of the region that derive their livelihood from the river with the same name.
Kawana further rejected allegations that traditional authorities in the region were never asked whether they supported the name change. In fact, he said Zambezi had come out tops during a process of voting and that it was widely seen as a non-tribalist name for the region.
His reaction follows a recent demonstration by the Concerned Group, who took to the streets of Katima Mulilo to reject the name change.
The group claimed that the Delimitation Commission, which made recommendations to Pohamba, "did not reflect the opinion and vision of the masses of Caprivians".
They also wanted to region's boundary to be shifted back to Andara, which now falls within the Kavango West Region.
However, Kawana said no boundaries were shifted by the Delimitation Commission.
Kawana told Namibian Sun that residents of the Zambezi Region were consulted through their respective traditional authorities since October 2012, when a committee was established and led by the region's governor, Lawrence Sampofu.
Kawana said when the committee was set up it had the sole aim of discussing the regional name change and unifying all tribes to do away with the colonial name of Caprivi.
He added that the regional council passed a resolution to endorse the name change.
Documents seen by Namibian Sun show that the Mashi and Mayeyi traditional authorities' chiefs and their subjects met with the committee in October last year.
The regional name change had apparently been agreed to at this meeting, while it was also supported that Schuckmannsburg be renamed Luhonono.
Kawana added that Zambezi is a unifying name to represent the tribes that derive their livelihood from the Zambezi River.
"We as a committee did not make secrets about what we wanted to achieve. The traditional authorities also formed part of those consulted and their subjects all agreed to the name change of the region. Initially during prior consultations with the relevant representatives of the traditional authorities, about five names were proposed and all voted in favour Zambezi. The Zambezi name proposal scored the highest. Zambezi Region was chosen because we sought to get a name that is not divisive or tribal, but which is neutral and unifying," Kawana said.
He also reiterated that the public was aware of the Delimitation Commission's visit to the region, adding that anybody was free to make submissions.
"I am satisfied with the way the committee handled the renaming proposal. Those consulted were those who were elected into power by the same people who are now complaining that they were not consulted. The new name of Zambezi Region is here to stay and has been gazetted by Pohamba to make it lawful," said Kawana.