Celebrating Africa

THE official Africa Day celebration in Windhoek on Friday attracted a better turnout than the series of national holidays that preceded it this month.

An estimated 2 000 people packed the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Katutura on Friday to celebrate the day. Among those in attendance were President Hifikepunye Pohamba, former President Sam Nujoma and Khomas Governor Sofia Shaningwa.In his keynote address, Pohamba warned Namibians of the possible negative impact globalisation could have for the country in the absence of proper planning and unity.”We must plan and work together to take advantage of this process while reducing its negative impact in our continent,” the President said.”For Africa to succeed we must join hands and work as a team.We must adopt new strategies to ensure that natural resources from Africa are exploited for the benefit of Africans,” he said.The President further reiterated his declaration of war against corruption, “an evil that must be uprooted from our societies”, and stressed the importance of educating the African child.”I believe that the prosperity and development of our continent depends on our ability to equip our youth with the necessary knowledge and skills through education, so that they can compete in the global economy.Each African child must be given the opportunity to gain skills so that they can escape the shackles of poverty and destitution,” he said.The crowd was entertained by artists like Ras Sheehama, Jackson Kaujeua and Tate Buti.On Wednesday Government announced that it had given the country’s estimated 75 000 civil servants the afternoon off on Thursday to “prepare” for Africa Day celebrations on Friday.Among those in attendance were President Hifikepunye Pohamba, former President Sam Nujoma and Khomas Governor Sofia Shaningwa.In his keynote address, Pohamba warned Namibians of the possible negative impact globalisation could have for the country in the absence of proper planning and unity.”We must plan and work together to take advantage of this process while reducing its negative impact in our continent,” the President said.”For Africa to succeed we must join hands and work as a team.We must adopt new strategies to ensure that natural resources from Africa are exploited for the benefit of Africans,” he said.The President further reiterated his declaration of war against corruption, “an evil that must be uprooted from our societies”, and stressed the importance of educating the African child.”I believe that the prosperity and development of our continent depends on our ability to equip our youth with the necessary knowledge and skills through education, so that they can compete in the global economy.Each African child must be given the opportunity to gain skills so that they can escape the shackles of poverty and destitution,” he said. The crowd was entertained by artists like Ras Sheehama, Jackson Kaujeua and Tate Buti.On Wednesday Government announced that it had given the country’s estimated 75 000 civil servants the afternoon off on Thursday to “prepare” for Africa Day celebrations on Friday.