Political Perspective

Gwen Lister

The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology claims to be tasked with trying to forge ‘nationhood’ in an expensive campaign; yet destroys all efforts to achieve this by excluding many Namibians through how they choose to commemorate Heroes Day.

Many will clearly feel marginalised by the way in which the ministry has gone about it. And given that taxpayers’ money will be used to host what will clearly be perceived as a ‘Swapo only’ event, it is high time that it is broadened to be inclusive.

The question is always asked by high-ranking government officials why Namibians in general don’t participate in national events. The answer is clear. They do not feel welcome and this should not come as a surprise to anyone.

This week Information Minister Joel Kaapanda issued a statement on the 2013 Heroes’ Day commemoration. Surprise, surprise. It will be celebrated at Omugulu Gwoombashe and as he himself emphasises “all roads will lead to the Omusati region” on 26 August.

At the event a statue of Founding Father Sam Nujoma will be unveiled and “medals of honour will be presented to heroes and heroines in the Land of the Brave”. We are not yet privy to the list of those who will receive awards, and it will be interesting to see how it is made up.

As if this was not enough, Kaapanda said that Heroes’ Day is a reminder to Namibians not to forget “those whose blood waters our freedom”, and for the enormous sacrifices made for the country’s independence. He added, lest we forget, that “many heroes and heroines died resisting and fighting against foreign occupation, oppression and repression”. To rub more salt into the wound, he says that Heroes’ Day is a “unifying event” which Namibians across the political spectrum are “expected to attend” to pay homage to those who sacrificed their lives.

The event is being organised in the far north of the country (has it ever been elsewhere for that matter?) making it impossible and often unaffordable for people to travel long distances from the south and the coast, among others, even if they wanted to be part of the commemoration. They are summarily told to organise events in their own regions (with what, one may legitimately ask?). The government must realise it would say a lot about its stated commitment to reconciliation and nationhood if it chose to celebrate the event elsewhere in the country.

I would have no problem whatsoever if this were purely a Swapo event. But instead it is organised by the government which (should) represent all the people of Namibia, using their tax dollars, and making it accessible to all by broadening the scope and definition of the heroes we are told to celebrate.

I have no problem with remembering those who lost their lives in the struggle, but I would like to think there are more Namibians out there who are deserving of the title ‘hero’ or ‘heroine’ and who may be more ordinary mortals who, through their life work and sacrifice in the pursuit of other worthy causes, make our country a better place to be. Heroes Day should encompass all those who are brave enough to sacrifice for their beliefs.

Whether it is the policeman who dies in the course of duty to protect the public; a mother who works her hands to the bone to give her children a decent education; the innocent children who suffer abuse and die at the hands of rapists and child murderers; the charity workers who run a soup kitchen for the homeless; dedicated people who fight for animal rights and environmental causes for the sake of future generations, the list goes on. These too are our heroes and heroines and not just those who fought the liberation war.

It is important too, that we distinguish between heroic deeds of sacrifice and those who live a life of heroism and dedication to others. By recognising heroes on a broader and more inclusive basis, the government could also encourage the pursuit of excellence and self-sacrifice that is so sorely missing among us today, mainly because the role models are not recognised.

The sooner the government recognises this and gives credit where it is due to brave sons and daughters of the soil who fight contemporary and more pressing battles against poverty and disease and unemployment, among others, the more likely it is that Namibians will feel they belong and enjoy their rights to nationhood.

But for now, and for the celebration of Heroes Day in Omusati this year, we will be bankrolling a Swapo event, where the red, blue and green will abound as opposed to our national colours, and it will all be about the liberation struggle once again.

Follow me on Twitter: @GwenLister1