EDITORIAL: Tribal hatred is a fire that consumes us all
What happened in Otjinene this week is not just a local disturbance - it is a dangerous symptom of a deeper, festering wound that threatens the very fabric of our nation.
The reported burning of trade stalls belonging to Aawambo, Ovazemba, and other non-Ovaherero vendors - allegedly by Ovaherero tribesmen - must be condemned in the strongest terms. It is a disgraceful act that flies in the face of our shared identity as Namibians.
But just as we condemn the retaliation, we must also denounce - without hesitation - the death that ignited these tensions. The reported fatal assault of a local Omuherero man, allegedly at the hands of Aawambo individuals, is unacceptable and tragic. The courts must deliver justice in that regard.
However, justice cannot be delivered through vengeance. It cannot be found in flames or in threats of expulsion. The answer to one tribal wound cannot be another. This cycle of tribal revenge is not justice - it is destruction.
Namibia belongs to all who live in it, regardless of tribe, language or region. Our constitution does not grant any group exclusive rights over any part of the country. Every Namibian has the right to reside, work, trade, and thrive in any corner of this land.
Africa is littered with cautionary tales where tribalism led to devastation. In Rwanda, ethnic hatred between the Hutu and Tutsi led to a genocide in 1994 that claimed over 800,000 lives. In South Sudan, ethnic divisions between the Dinka and Nuer have fuelled a brutal civil war. Nigeria has long struggled with ethnic and religious divisions, from Biafra to Boko Haram. These tragedies did not erupt overnight - they were built on decades of "us vs. them" thinking, and failing to challenge the poison of tribal supremacy.
The reported burning of trade stalls belonging to Aawambo, Ovazemba, and other non-Ovaherero vendors - allegedly by Ovaherero tribesmen - must be condemned in the strongest terms. It is a disgraceful act that flies in the face of our shared identity as Namibians.
But just as we condemn the retaliation, we must also denounce - without hesitation - the death that ignited these tensions. The reported fatal assault of a local Omuherero man, allegedly at the hands of Aawambo individuals, is unacceptable and tragic. The courts must deliver justice in that regard.
However, justice cannot be delivered through vengeance. It cannot be found in flames or in threats of expulsion. The answer to one tribal wound cannot be another. This cycle of tribal revenge is not justice - it is destruction.
Namibia belongs to all who live in it, regardless of tribe, language or region. Our constitution does not grant any group exclusive rights over any part of the country. Every Namibian has the right to reside, work, trade, and thrive in any corner of this land.
Africa is littered with cautionary tales where tribalism led to devastation. In Rwanda, ethnic hatred between the Hutu and Tutsi led to a genocide in 1994 that claimed over 800,000 lives. In South Sudan, ethnic divisions between the Dinka and Nuer have fuelled a brutal civil war. Nigeria has long struggled with ethnic and religious divisions, from Biafra to Boko Haram. These tragedies did not erupt overnight - they were built on decades of "us vs. them" thinking, and failing to challenge the poison of tribal supremacy.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article