Mbumba guns for ‘enemies’ who threaten peace

President Nangolo Mbumba struck a defiant tone in his Independence Day message yesterday, urging the country’s security cluster to redouble efforts to ensure Namibia remains safe, while branding unspecified individuals allegedly planning to disturb the peace as ‘enemies’ of Namibia.

Speaking in Katima Mulilo, Mbumba did not name those he accused of disturbing the peace, leaving room for speculation that he was referring to young, unemployed graduates who marched in Windhoek yesterday.

The demonstrators stressed that independence has not brought them peace of mind or prosperity.

Last year, activists Michael Amushelelo and Dimbulukeni Nauyoma, as well as an opposition lawmaker, were arrested and locked up after their involvement in a similar Independence Day march.

‘Path of division’

Mbumba called on Namibians not to follow those who are intent on dividing the nation.

“We emphasise peace, unity and harmony. Those who are planning to disturb peace, unity and economic development in Namibia are enemies of all our people,” he warned.

“True citizens of Namibia should not support or follow these individuals or groups who have chosen the path of division instead of the path of unity. I call upon our security cluster to redouble their efforts to ensure that Namibia remains safe from external and internal criminal threats, not only for its citizens but also for our visitors and tourists from abroad,” the president said.

He also cautioned Namibians not to destroy the future of their children with tribalism, racism, regionalism, corruption and crime, urging them to pull together to secure economic emancipation.

Mbumba also remarked that this year’s celebrations are bittersweet, as the nation has just concluded the mourning period for president Hage Geingob, who died last month.

Prosperity beckons

On the economic front, the president said Namibians can look forward to a bright future.

“Massive oil and gas discoveries have been made in our ocean, green hydrogen investments are about to materialise and our latest budget of N$100 billion will create more jobs and give our citizens much-needed disposable income,” he said.

“As a result, we all, including the private sector, SME sector and citizens, need to hold hands with government and with each other to galvanise the economic revival of Namibia for increased job opportunities and development.”

He highlighted several development projects undertaken in the host region, Zambezi. These include N$8 million allocated to revive the Kalimbeza rice project and to establish a sugar plantation and sugar processing plant in Katima Mulilo, where this year’s celebrations took place.

'Not enough'

Apart from some people who were treated to food and drinks at the Independence Day celebrations in Katima Mulilo yesterday, many allegedly complained that they were left disappointed due to a shortage of food.

A resident, Simon Mutabelezi (22), described the event as a "disaster."

"They made us stand in the sun for hours, all for nothing. We didn't get any food and this is very disappointing," he said.

Looking back

Reminiscing about Namibia's road to independence, the president said: “It was here that many of our citizens escaped on foot and through canoes, either to Zambia or Botswana, across the Zambezi River and its tributaries. When the South African apartheid regime realised the strategic value of the Zambezi Region for Namibia’s liberation struggle, they militarised the area, declared a decade-long curfew, and killed, imprisoned and tortured many citizens here."

He added: “It was here in the Zambezi Region that the Swapo party’s South West Africa Liberation Army (SWALA) operatives, the forerunners of PLAN, started political mobilisation from Singalamwe, Masida, Makanga, Kikiya and Sibbinda in the late sixties. Indeed, the first commander of SWALA, comrade Tobias Hainyeko, was killed in combat action in the Zambezi Region."

[email protected]