Okahandja athletes from different sport codes on Tuesday joined forces in a demonstration against the rise of substance abuse in the town.
Titled ‘Champions against Substance Abuse’, the march kicked off with the town’s political leadership welcoming tennis ace Joanivia Bezuidenhout, who recently reached two consecutive finals in the J30 World Tennis Junior Tour tournaments held in Botswana.
Organised by Ministry of Education, Innovation, Sport, Arts and Culture sport officer Mara Kandjiriomuini, the march saw regional councillor Bethuel Tjaveondja and acting regional education director Elia Kandjii leading the group of several athletes from boxing, rugby, football, and cricket teams.
Namibia Premier Football League (NPFL) outfit Okahandja United, rugby team Okahandja Highlanders – the defending Ongos 7s champions – Okahandja Boxing and Fitness Academy and Veddersdal Football Academy ensured their players attended the event in full attire.
The Evangelical Lutheran Brass Band played the music while the police joined in the march.
Starting at the ‘Welcome to Okahandja’ sign in the central town, the march went through the streets, ending at the office of the sport ministry.
Several speakers took to the stage to share their stories on the importance of avoiding substance abuse when trying to succeed as an athlete.
“I speak to you as a former footballer, who could have gone far. But I was derailed by alcohol and other things. It took me a long while to get back to a normal, productive life,” Okahandja United supporter club spokesperson Hans Kawazunda said.
Brian Haihambo of Okahandja Highlanders said: “Sport will make you a loner because your friends will wonder why you are always training and not dancing to amapiano. But the fruits from exercising that discipline will come in handy.”
Bezuidenhout, meanwhile, said travelling extensively while playing tennis has helped her see the dangers of substance abuse.
“So please stay away from that because it is not worth it.”
Tjaveondja, who was the keynote speaker, called on Okahandja residents to work with the police to curb the scourge of substance abuse at the town.
“Let us shame the drug dealers by working with the police… For the remaining months of this year, let us show the rest of the country that Okahandja is working hard to get rid of these ills.”
The regional councillor also told the athletes that “discipline and commitment, will take you a long way.”
The event was also attended by representatives from the Ministry of Education, the police station commander, and officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare.
The ‘Say No To Drugs’ movement of Okahandja also made an appearance.
“This is a sign that the government is prepared to listen to the people. So I am so happy that they came to support us on this day,” Kandjiriomuini said.
Okahandja has recently made national news after a young person was killed with a spear in what was reported to be a dispute over drugs.
This was the second march in less than a week, following a similar demonstration on Saturday in which a group walked from the Nau-Aib location to town.
