NSHR accused of ‘agitating’ tribalism

GOVERNMENT has rebuked a human rights organisation for allegedly inciting tribalism on a land dispute between two tribes in the Caprivi Region.

“Government wants to caution the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) that it is agitating tribalism in a recent media release and such actions are not in the interest of peace, security and the national development of the country,” said Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Tuesday. “The skewed utterances and observations of the NSHR have the potential to shatter the peace and stability that Namibia has enjoyed for the past 17 years,” she told reporters at a media briefing on the latest Cabinet decisions.”If the NHSR was really concerned about the case, it could have approached the Government on the matter, instead of taking it to the media.One of the parties has taken the issue to court and since the case is now sub judice, the Government cannot further comment on it,” the Information Minister said.In a media release on February 22 2007, the NSHR accused Government of fuelling tribalism in the Caprivi Region, basing its accusations on a disputed area of jurisdiction between the Mafwe and the Masubia Traditional Authorities at Muyako village.When the issue of Muyako came to the attention of the Government in 2003, former President Sam Nujoma referred the matter to the Council of Traditional Authorities and the Council made recommendations to the President.According to sources close to Chief George Simasiku Mamili, the decision to allocate the disputed area to the Masubia tribe under Chief Kisco Maiba Liswani was only communicated to the chiefs on February 12 2007.President Hifikepunye Pohamba sent a letter in this regard to both Chiefs via Regional Government Minister John Pandeni, who personally delivered the letter.Mafwe Chief Mamili rejected the Government decision and publicly declared at a press conference in Windhoek last month that his traditional authority would take Government to court.Article 10(2) of the Constitution prohibits all forms of discrimination, which by implication includes tribalism.Attempts by this newspaper to reach NSHR Executive Director Phil ya Nangoloh or its spokesperson Dorkas Phillemon for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.”The skewed utterances and observations of the NSHR have the potential to shatter the peace and stability that Namibia has enjoyed for the past 17 years,” she told reporters at a media briefing on the latest Cabinet decisions.”If the NHSR was really concerned about the case, it could have approached the Government on the matter, instead of taking it to the media.One of the parties has taken the issue to court and since the case is now sub judice, the Government cannot further comment on it,” the Information Minister said.In a media release on February 22 2007, the NSHR accused Government of fuelling tribalism in the Caprivi Region, basing its accusations on a disputed area of jurisdiction between the Mafwe and the Masubia Traditional Authorities at Muyako village.When the issue of Muyako came to the attention of the Government in 2003, former President Sam Nujoma referred the matter to the Council of Traditional Authorities and the Council made recommendations to the President.According to sources close to Chief George Simasiku Mamili, the decision to allocate the disputed area to the Masubia tribe under Chief Kisco Maiba Liswani was only communicated to the chiefs on February 12 2007.President Hifikepunye Pohamba sent a letter in this regard to both Chiefs via Regional Government Minister John Pandeni, who personally delivered the letter.Mafwe Chief Mamili rejected the Government decision and publicly declared at a press conference in Windhoek last month that his traditional authority would take Government to court.Article 10(2) of the Constitution prohibits all forms of discrimination, which by implication includes tribalism.Attempts by this newspaper to reach NSHR Executive Director Phil ya Nangoloh or its spokesperson Dorkas Phillemon for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.