Africa-Press – Namibia. PRESIDENT Hage Geingob accused young, educated Namibians of being tribalist and causing disunity in the country.
PRESIDENT Hage Geingob accused young, educated Namibians of being tribalist and causing disunity in the country.
Geingob was speaking to employees of the Bank of Namibia on Wednesday when he warned that the Namibian youth are frighteningly tribalistic.
“We are becoming more tribal after 30 something years. More tribal. What is worse is younger people. To my surprise, you are more tribal [sic]. It is frightening. Younger, educated people are more tribal,” he said.
During the engagement with the bank’s staff, president Geingob said tribalism is evident in the interactions of Namibians from all ethnic groups.
“When we are with five Damaras and one Otjiherero-speaking guy, we just talk Damara. Nobody cares whether he understands or not. When you are Oshiwambo-speaking, we are five, and there are three Otjiherero speakers, we just speak Oshiwambo. All of us do that,” Geingob said.
For further illustration, Geingob pointed out the nepotism and favouritism among employees of the same ethnic groups at institutions in Namibia.
“Why did we stop being sensitive? Same with hiring. I can have three from my tribe and I don’t feel guilty because we think it is normal now. But I am not sensitive that my office is just populated by my tribe. My cousins. How do you build a nation like that?
“So, how do we build the Namibian House that way if we are not sensitive about somebody else in this country, where we must all live together?”
President Geingob called for citizens to be sensitive and considerate for the purpose of unity.
“But these days, we are not sensitive. We don’t care when we are with other tribes or groups. I want in the Namibian House not to see this tribe, that race and so on. That is my desire. That’s my hope. But it is not working,” Geingob said.
He said the country is facing difficult times which call on Namibians to unite in a common direction.
He further promised to leave behind more hope and peace than he got when he took office in 2015.
“Since I took over there has been no peace. We are going through difficult times. But what I will leave behind in office is hope,” Geingob vowed.
The president has long maintained that he inherited a troubled country with empty bank accounts, persistent drought and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah labelled Geingob’s statement problematic and generalising without evidence.
“If it’s true that Namibia is becoming tribalistic then it is the failure of politics and governance to manage ethnic and racial diversity,” he said.
He believes community activists are interpreted as tribalist as a result of their advocacy.
“Who else should stand up for them, if they are being marginalised? Was it tribalism for the blacks to question colonial marginalisation? There is a thin line, and evidence is needed before a conclusion is arrived at,” he stressed.
Analyst Rui Tyitende disagrees with president Geingob’s sentiments, saying young people are merely airing their frustrations.
“I don’t think young, educated Namibians are tribalist [sic] per se, they are simply trying to channel their discontent and disillusionment to the ruling elite regarding their deep sense of hopelessness,” Tyitende said.
Geingob was speaking to employees of the Bank of Namibia on Wednesday when he warned that the Namibian youth are frighteningly tribalistic.
“We are becoming more tribal after 30 something years. More tribal. What is worse is younger people. To my surprise, you are more tribal [sic]. It is frightening. Younger, educated people are more tribal,” he said.
During the engagement with the bank’s staff, president Geingob said tribalism is evident in the interactions of Namibians from all ethnic groups.
“When we are with five Damaras and one Otjiherero-speaking guy, we just talk Damara. Nobody cares whether he understands or not. When you are Oshiwambo-speaking, we are five, and there are three Otjiherero speakers, we just speak Oshiwambo. All of us do that,” Geingob said.
For further illustration, Geingob pointed out the nepotism and favouritism among employees of the same ethnic groups at institutions in Namibia.
“Why did we stop being sensitive? Same with hiring. I can have three from my tribe and I don’t feel guilty because we think it is normal now. But I am not sensitive that my office is just populated by my tribe. My cousins. How do you build a nation like that?
“So, how do we build the Namibian House that way if we are not sensitive about somebody else in this country, where we must all live together?”
President Geingob called for citizens to be sensitive and considerate for the purpose of unity.
“But these days, we are not sensitive. We don’t care when we are with other tribes or groups. I want in the Namibian House not to see this tribe, that race and so on. That is my desire. That’s my hope. But it is not working,” Geingob said.
He said the country is facing difficult times which call on Namibians to unite in a common direction.
He further promised to leave behind more hope and peace than he got when he took office in 2015.
“Since I took over there has been no peace. We are going through difficult times. But what I will leave behind in office is hope,” Geingob vowed.
The president has long maintained that he inherited a troubled country with empty bank accounts, persistent drought and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah labelled Geingob’s statement problematic and generalising without evidence.
“If it’s true that Namibia is becoming tribalistic then it is the failure of politics and governance to manage ethnic and racial diversity,” he said.
He believes community activists are interpreted as tribalist as a result of their advocacy.
“Who else should stand up for them, if they are being marginalised? Was it tribalism for the blacks to question colonial marginalisation? There is a thin line, and evidence is needed before a conclusion is arrived at,” he stressed.
Analyst Rui Tyitende disagrees with president Geingob’s sentiments, saying young people are merely airing their frustrations.
“I don’t think young, educated Namibians are tribalist [sic] per se, they are simply trying to channel their discontent and disillusionment to the ruling elite regarding their deep sense of hopelessness,” Tyitende said.
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