NEWS - NAMIBIA
| 2013-08-12
!Nami≠Nüs residents against new name
CONTROVERSIAL ... President Hifikepunye Pohamba points out some of the changes to con-stituency boundaries he announced last week. Some Namibians are unhappy with the changes.
Photograph by Jordaania Andima
SHINOVENE IMMANUEL and LUQMAN CLOETE
SOME residents of !Nami≠Nüs (formerly Luderitz) in the //Karas Region said they will petition against the town’s new name today because they were not consulted.
So far, the disgruntled community has started an SMS campaign to oppose the name change.
“All concerned buchters, let’s mobilise and march from all four directions to the office of the regional councillor to protest against the forced, imposed name change on Monday 13h00. We are a democratic society and our input and votes count. Let us express our disapproval. We were not consulted, informed to discuss or deliberate on a name change. Forward to 100 000 buchters over the globe and join,” read one of the SMSes.
Although !Nami≠Nüs mayor, Susan Ndjaleka, confirmed yesterday that some residents have inundated her with comments opposed to the name change, she said she would rather remain neutral on the matter.
“I have to be neutral in the matter. I have to protect the government. The only thing I can do is harmonise the community through a dialogue to ensure that the name change takes place,” she said.
The regional councillor for !Nami≠Nüs constituency, Jan Scholtz, said the name change “has been a long time coming”.
Scholtz said the //Karas governors’ office communicated to the local authority to advise residents to attend and give their input at the public hearing held by the Delimitation Commission at Keetmanshoop.
Scholtz said !Nami≠Nüs is Luderitz’ original name given by the !Aman community, a Nama sub-tribe which was the first to settle at the coastal town before the arrival of the German tobacco merchant, Adolf Luderitz.
Through this name change, Scholtz added, more people will learn about the history of !Nami≠Nüs.
“We’re building a nation, therefore, we must be willing to accommodate others. To say we’re buchters rejecting the name change will only create division among us,” said Scholtz.
The former chairperson of the Fourth Delimitation Commission, Judge Alfred Siboleka, yesterday said people were consulted on the new names of the regions and towns earlier this year.
Siboleka said all meetings were publicised on radio and in print media when the commission started its work in February this year until April when the consultations in all the regions were completed.
“These were open public meetings and attendance was also free. All dates were made public,” Siboleka said without giving details since their term as commissioners ended when they handed over the delimitation report to the President Hifikepunye Pohamba last month.
On Friday, Pohamba who also announced the split of Kavango Region into Kavango West and Kavango East, said this move would ensure that all the people receive good service delivery.
The Governor of the Kavango Region, Samuel Mbambo, told The Namibian that he has so far only heard positive reactions regarding the creation of the two regions.
“It was a good decision, born and blessed by people of the region,” Mbambo said adding that the proposal to split the region into two has been “long time coming” after it was initially suggested during the country’s third delimitation exercise done in 2002.
Mbambo reiterated Pohamba’s assertion that the split of the region would bring delivery closer to the people.
In 1998, the third delimitation commission whose members were Lazarus Hangula, the late Judge Johannes Karuaihe and Mbambo recommended that Kavango Region discard its old name Okavango.
Now that the region has been split, Mbambo said it’s up to the president to decide which region he would serve.
He, however, said Nkurenkuru will be the main town in Kavango West while Rundu will remain the main town in Kavango East.
The Delimitation Commission dominated news when they began their work early this year with some people, especially in Oshana, proposing tribal regions while border disputes erupted in the Kavango and Caprivi regions.
The renaming of Caprivi to Zambezi Region has also not been without controversy either. Caprivi was named after a German general and statesman, Count Leo von Caprivi, who was the German Chancellor between 1890 and 1894.
Minister of Presidential Affairs Albert Kawana last week confirmed that many other recommendations made were rejected by President.
Comments
One thing that i have realized about use Namibians is that we can talk and complain, but no one is willing to stand up and say enough is enough, and for the name change i will give it a month then that topic will be history. -jox
- mjox
I am one of the disgruntled Caprivian, I totally feel that the Government of Namibia has done a grave mistake for not involving the Caprivian Community in the name change to Zambezi. and if they did their consultation only to the minority who do not know the history of Caprivi. There are people who are called Zambezi in Zimbabwe and few in Zambia. Caprivi was called LINYANDI before the Germany Chancellor, it was appropriate to return to that name. The other thing to remember is that CAPRIVI today is contested land. swapo Government knows this very well. People are in exile want Caprivi to be free from the rest of Namibia. many times the Government has portrayed cowardice stance for table talk on the matter.
The Government knows the agreement been spoken by the Caprivians, but chose to deafen their ears. By the way why can't they change also SWAPO to NAPO. because I do not understand where is SOUTH WEST AFRICA today; since we talk of Namibia. It was logical from to change the name just on Independence. One reason for sure is that you are preserving your history struggle if not so please the name. it has no connection to what is Namibia.
CAPRIVIANS SHOULD DEMONSTRATE AGAINST THE NAME CHANGE. - Felix
Hey! Will someone please update the Wikipedia articles on Namibia with our new regions and new names for towns.
Thanks! - Pancho
The mayor says she needs t be neutral and protect the government? She is very backwards about the role of government. She should protect the interests of those she governs, the residents of Luderitz. - Eric
let hope and pray that one day our politician will start to thing before they act... people are starving but they have money to waste in renaming of town and changing of regions..... plaese show are us that you care, because one day we will be exhausted and it gone be too late to say sorry. - shaya
It is easy to say Buchters must partake into consultations,how can you partake in something concerning your town when they don't come to your town nor was anything made public by our town council or by Mr.Scholtz.
Our town does not need a name change with the amount of money they spend on this, they could have built 520 low cost houses ,interlocked 20 km of dirt roads creating temporary jobs.
By doing that they could have had 520 families not living in shacks and a good clean infrastructure.
And the Buchters would have said thank you ,thank you for making our lives more liveable ,thank you for providing us with a nice roads .
Instead we will have to stay in our shacks ,no power,no water and eat the sand blowing around on our gravel roads. And say thank you for wasting our tax money . - Buchter
There are so much more important issues to address in this country, such as the poverty, gap between the rich and poor, draught, police violance against citizens, etc, yet emphasis are placed on changing town and street names. Really! The Government should get their priorities in order. - Anonymous
I am of the opinion that the Town's name should have remained as Luderitz and the Constituency alone could have been renamed to !Nami≠Nüs Constituency. However, that is what we call democracy, buchters should have travelled to Keetmanshoop for the hearings and opposed there already. One-Namibia, One Nation, One Decision-One Implementation. On the other hand, the addition of a region and constituencies is good for National Development as we are in Gear 4 towards VISION2013 in terms of new jobs/employment creation at new constituency offices and a new Regional Council and the fact that line ministries will also be decentralised to the new region and sub offices at new constituencies. Aluta in this time H.E.The President of the Republic - Regi Roman
@Andreas, one thing that I have learnt from our GRN is that when they want to push through their agendas that are not supported by the masses, will always hold their meetings when the academics are at work and expect the street kids to attend their meetings. We don't want the Zambezi River Region....it remains a shared river with other countries!!! - Song
What is "Buchters" or "Buchter"? Come on poeple, change you mind frame. - Anonymous
I would like to know, if Caprivi was a German who came around 1890 to 1894, then what was the Name
used for Caprivians? e.g if we say Ovaherero if that name came from colonizers names then what was the name used
for calling the tribe? - Frans Ndjahera
I have learnt something about Namibiabs. We are very ignorant of governemt activities. A good example is the delimitation commission's consultations in the regions. Not many people attended those meetings or bothered to listen to their radios but now that the results are out, We are up in arms. Its a know fact that change is not easy to take but We must learn some tolerance and humility when it comes to matters of national concern. - Andreas Vashinda
At a time when the country is faced with severe drought they take money and waste on name changes dat are not ideall to the residents. We don't want this Zambezi River Region......a name of the river we share with other countries. - Song
Divide and Rule sounds easier for our government to administrate local issues, Its always better to consult traditional authorities and leaders at lower levels to get things done in Africa. Democracy is a system that wasnt born here, we are trying to adopt to it and unfortunately it will take us years to practice it as need be. - Bernhardt Beatty
Then how about hating each other,amongst our own nation. Tribalism will kill us, dont we learn from others mistakes (civil war. Our country has suffered enough from separatism, was that supposed to be a guideline for Nation building? Just because colonial powers hated us, doesnt mean we have to do the same now. i even hear people calling each other K@#$$* and laughing, but do you know at some farms in the South it is done with hate by racist and hateful land owners. look out for each instead of stabbing each other, especially our beautiful mothers and daughters. Be Proud of our heritage - Nyenga
This is good, yes it costs money but sometimes with a little pride we as Namibians can stop waiting for handouts. get up, learn how to manage your wealth, (cattle,goats). Be proactive, government this government that, what have YOU done for yourself today? - Nyenga
This comment is not about name changing, but an encouragement for the government of Namibia, to continue dividing big regions into the smaller ones, for the much needed services to the people. Next on the list must be Omusati region to be divided into four regions, two regions on each side of the main road to Ruacana. Why? Because for many villagers in Omusati region, quality of life is similar to that during colonial era, exept that there are no South-African Capirs. Same applies to Ohangwena region, where some villagers still spent up to a week without taking a proper body was because they ahve no acces to water. - Erna Nkali - See more at: http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?id=2400&page_type=story_detail&category_id=1#sthash.t2e8BlUf.dpuf - Erna Nkali
Name change for what wakwetu,we have better things to consider,like the current drougth that have affected our country,and yet we are spending money on simple things such as name change,that could have wait for goodness sake,our leaders should wake up please,cant wait for election. - Helex
This comment is not about name changing, but an encouragement for the government of Namibia, to continue dividing big regions into the smaller ones, for the much needed services to the people. Next on the list must be Omusati region to be divided into four regions, two regions on each main road to Ruacana. Why? Because for many villagers in Omusati region, quality of life is similar to that during colonial era, exept that there are no South-African Capirs. Same applies to Ohangwena region, where some villagers still spent up to a week without taking a proper body was because they ahve no acces to water. - Erna Nkali
What is the meaning of buchters plz. Stop moaning and partake when there are consultations och!!. - Science
I agree with Chaze that government should concentrate on more important issues such as housing, education, health and looking after the aged.
How does one pronounce !Nmai/Nus anyway ? - Paddy
I dont know who was consulted before these changes were made. If Namibia is truelly a democracy, then the people where suposed to decide on this matter. - Gere
I bet of these "Cheers" shouters not one single person is of Luderitzbucht. Please engage your brains first. - PM
I love it!, This was long overdue!. Now we have to start addressing the land they stole from our grandfathers and grandmothers. They can't continue to profit from ill gotten gains while the original land owners suffer. - Clarence Mbai
how can you sit in your luxury office and decide Caprivi is no more, who did you consult, people who are not even living in the areas can not decide on the resident. we don't want name change we want schools, hospital, roads and employment. how can we wake up in the morning and our name has been changed just like. after changing what then? tell us development is coming with that? - Yvone
bravo to his excellency pohamba! "apparently it is a name no one can pronounce" I remember u couldn't pronounce "hifikepunye" and now you are experts in that..so deal with it.. Mr president we want the land next it is time this injustice is corrected. we want the land please stop letting the masses suffering! I think economic feedom fighters is a nicee idea - penda
what does the name change benefit us in Caprivi? they more important things to look at and change than concentrating on the names. the is less development in Caprivi and all u think about is changing the name. We don't want to change..they no benefits in that only losses. - Chaze
Martin Sulu your comment on whites is a disgrace and untrue. you cleary don't know the LUDERITZ BUCHTERS. there are not just white people in luderitz. Even the oshivambo, coloureds, namas and all are against this name change. we don't need a name change to know our history. we don't need a new name. we need better roads, housing, benefits to the old age. not a stupid name change. - Buchter for life
By changing the name of our Town, you are changing the History, you are taking away our identities and our Heritage. Please reconsider this name changing as i would like my childrens and childrens children know where and how we have become a free and democratic country.
This is exactly what you (whites) get when you ignorantly decide to stay away from public gatherings and national events like independence celebration, heroes day and cassing day just to mention a few, all the people in luderitz were invited to attend a consultative meeting with the DC but you refused to attend because it was led by a black man, now you are complaining! just shup up and adapt to the new change. - Martin sulu
Who did "they" consult when the name was changed from !Nami≠Nüs to the so called Luderitz. A big thank you to our President for the renaming it back to it's original name !Nami≠Nüs. It has been long overdue. When we say !Nami≠Nüs, i personally say it with proud, a name given by our own proudly Namibian people the !Aman community as they were the first to settle at the coastal town, !Nami≠Nüs. President Hifikepunye Pohamba you have my vote for next elections. - Driesie
When names are changing, even development and welfare of indigenous must make marks!! Whether the name is changed from colonial names to founder names, to me will be meaningless if the welfare and cake sharing is imbalance. Well come to the new name changes and I salute the Delimitation Committee for job well done. Now move to equal share of GRN cake for all. - Kephas Haitembu
When Luderitz Adolf came to this place he found Nama people calling it Nami≠Nüs ,so what is the problem of resuming the original name of the place.We must be proud for our Namibia heritage, the Gemans came to this place and changed name because they could not pronounce it.Forward with name change - George Mat
I simply cannot understand this absolutely childish renaming of towns and regions.
There was no settlement when Luderitz was founded, so this is a historical name. WHY rename it? What for ? What sense does it make? Chasing away tourists from a poor region? A name nobody can pronounce?
Not a single person of the affected regions has been asked, and re-naming takes place in dictator-style form.
Let us hope that the Swapo-leadership now does not start the same insane old-age style like Zibabwean mad Robert Mugabe!
Also, this WASTE of money for renamings and subsidising Air Namibia is unbelievable, it affects millions of maps and thousands of cartographic institutions, while in many regions of Namibia people and animals are starving from drought, the Swapo leadership affords themselves such a nonsense.
The leadership always makes enough money available for their own luxury and also wastes money for luxury museums nobody visits. But they are so stupid not to understand that tens of thousands of tourists that are generating the income for thousands of Namibian families are being offended by childish renamings. It is a matter of cutting off the hand that is feeding you. And making a fool of yourself.
Intelligent people would drop such stupid ideas instantly. But are politicians intelligent?
- PM
Thank you Pohamba for not renaming Luderitz to Nuyoma Bay. Proudly Namibian! - Valerie
I think the renaming process should be a step by step process which should start with 1. Communities affected propose at least three names to the Delimitation Committee, 2. The Delimitation Committee should allow all the people affected to vote for the new name, 3. The Delimitation Committee should then submit the new name (report) to the President to endorse the wish of the people. At least this way democracy will be observed. - Naftal
Namibia is a democratic country where people have the right to participate in decisions that affect them. The history of Namibia will remain the way it is and changing name will not improve any service delivery, is rather a wasting of time and money as name changes comes with costs. Why should Luderitz be renamed, if residents themselves were happy with the name Luderitz? People should oppose to this name change. Popya - Popya
The president did well on name change as per the delimitation recommedation. Those oposing it are the people who dont wnat the realy history to be written for our future generation to know. Long live the Republic of Namibia and we must always remain blessed for ever. - jason Malima
Namibians why are we always have negative attitude toward the developement of our own country. I am proude of the change of name from a foreign name to a pure namibian name - Loide Nambele
I reject the name change but accept the region division. It will remain Lüderitz for me. It had this name since 1883 and it thereby has a strong historical attachment. Lüderitz was named Lüderitz before independence and should remain Lüderitz. Why rename a key city of this nation ? - Stefan Groevens
Its an African name, to break it down further a Namibian name, derived from one of the Namibian tribes originaly from that area. Very soon we wont find it hard to pronounce it. - Gerda
we must get used to changes namibians!
- Issy
