If Polygamy Goes, The Himba Too?

THANKS for giving me a chance to respond to Mervin //Areseb’s response on 24/04/2009 to my comments on polygamy.

Firstly this is not an attack on him as he is responding from Europe and that gives an impression that he is in process of adopting the English culture.
And secondly my emphasis on polygamy is and still remains that it is our traditional exercise and to abolish polygamy is a slaughter of our cultural customs.
We are embracing foreign cultures by adopting their practice over the expense of our own cultures.
1. You say polygamy is a violation of human rights, is it not a violation of human rights to stop someone from exercising their tradition and customs?
The issue of HIV-AIDS testing is a voluntary choice. I still strongly argue the spread of HIV-AIDS as a reason to abolish polygamy is unacceptable and if it be the case, I think educated partners in a polygamous marriage will pride themselves to take correct protective and caring steps. HIV infection in any marriage is brought by unfaithful partners and let us accept that it is the reality.
2. There are no Namibian cultural customs that hinder development unless you mean that development of any kind can only be achieved if we practise the same traditional customs as of those of developed countries. We have countries like China for instance, which is culturally rich yet it is one of the best-developed countries in the whole world.
3. Will we have any tourists/visitors to stop over in our country to learn about our cultures if we possess the same cultural customs (as they do)? Culture and tradition is a heritage, not a technological thing we can develop or upgrade. Let’s preserve our traditional norms.
Soon you have a law that implicates the Ovahimba as being ‘indecent’ for exercising what has been custom to them for generations and generations. Namibia watch out.

Kabende Kidd
Via e-mail