Where Were Our Herero Leaders?

The Herero genocide remembrance is one of the most important events in Namibian history, especially among the Herero community.

It is very disappointing to learn that some of our leaders

(Kambazembi, Zeraeua, Munjuku and Kameeta) could not make it to

this event [in Okahandja last Sunday] as so many of us wish we

could take the front seats.

As a young Herero woman I was very disappointed that the people

we look up to could not make it to these events.

 

They could have shown that regardless of Kaura and Riruako's

issues they had swallowed their pride and put politics behind them

just to be at this memorable event as proud leaders of the Herero

nation.

 

We call the youth the leaders of tomorrow, we cry that the

children are losing the importance of tradition, that the children

don't know the value of culture.

 

But if the leaders who have been leading the Herero nation for

decades could not make it to these events what does this prove to

our children? We are trying to teach children to look up to their

leaders, but who should they look up to, if these leaders don't

attend traditional gatherings? It is indeed very sad for me as a

young woman who has been trying so hard to keep with tradition to

learn that some leaders chose to be elsewhere then at this

important gathering.

 

Where do we see the Herero nation in five years if our leaders

continue with such attitudes? We want leaders whose example can be

followed by our great grandchildren, who can pass tradition on to

their children; we want to see the Herero community grow from

strength to strength.

 

- Kapimbire - via email

 

As a young Herero woman I was very disappointed that the people we

look up to could not make it to these events. They could have shown

that regardless of Kaura and Riruako's issues they had swallowed

their pride and put politics behind them just to be at this

memorable event as proud leaders of the Herero nation. We call the

youth the leaders of tomorrow, we cry that the children are losing

the importance of tradition, that the children don't know the value

of culture. But if the leaders who have been leading the Herero

nation for decades could not make it to these events what does this

prove to our children? We are trying to teach children to look up

to their leaders, but who should they look up to, if these leaders

don't attend traditional gatherings? It is indeed very sad for me

as a young woman who has been trying so hard to keep with tradition

to learn that some leaders chose to be elsewhere then at this

important gathering. Where do we see the Herero nation in five

years if our leaders continue with such attitudes? We want leaders

whose example can be followed by our great grandchildren, who can

pass tradition on to their children; we want to see the Herero

community grow from strength to strength.- Kapimbire - via

email

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