President Nangolo Mbumba says Namibians should be proud of the peaceful and stable country they live in, which is the envy of many nations across the globe.
“Namibia is a vibrant democracy, with a government with a strong resolve to guarantee the fundamental rights and freedoms which are the prerequisite for a peaceful, united and prosperous country,” Mbumba said in commemoration of Constitution Day on Friday.
“When I took the oath of office, I committed myself to uphold the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia. I am committed to serve each and every Namibian in the advancement of our shared prosperity. I wish to remind Namibians that our work in pursuit of development and prosperity continues.”
Mbumba said Namibia has demonstrated that the Constitution is a sacrosanct document.
“As a young democracy which has traversed different trials, including the untimely death of president Hage Geingob, a sitting head of state, we have demonstrated that our Constitution is a sacrosanct document,” he said.
He said Geingob, as the chairperson of the Constituent Assembly, is the chief architect of Namibia’s Constitution, which has guided the smooth transition of leadership Namibia witnessed on 4 February.
“In mourning, we should draw solace from the fact that president Geingob always encouraged Namibians from all walks of life to internalise the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia as a living document,” Mbumba said.
The president said as Namibia celebrates Constitution Day, the country should recommit itself to the ideals of unity, peace and justice for all.
“Let us rededicate ourselves to work hard to broaden the scope of inclusive economic development where no one is left out,” Mbumba said.
Meanwhile, the speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi, said the Namibian Constitution has been the country’s guiding light in building a nation that upholds the rights and freedoms of all its citizens.
He said since Namibia’s first United Nations-supervised elections in November 1989, the country has held six democratic elections, reflecting the Constitution’s enduring legacy in facilitating a peaceful and stable democracy.
“This day, 9 February, marks a pivotal moment in our history when the Constituent Assembly, comprised of visionaries and patriots, unanimously adopted the Constitution,” Katjavivi said.
According to him, the achievement crafted under Geingob’s leadership is testament to the spirit of unity and compromise that drove Namibia’s founding fathers and mothers to draft the ‘Mother of All Laws’ in record time.
“The process of drafting our Constitution was a remarkable feat, given the diverse backgrounds of the 72 members of the Constituent Assembly. These individuals, once adversaries in the struggle for liberation, came together to forge a document that would lay the foundation for a nation built on the principles of unity, liberty and justice,” he said.
Katjavivi said in the spirit of the Constitution, Namibia has made significant strides towards national reconciliation, racial equality and gender parity.
“Today, our National Assembly proudly reflects this progress with a near-equal representation of men and women and an increase in young parliamentarians,” he said.
“As we honour this day, we also pay homage to the late president Hage Geingob. His monumental contribution to the crafting of our Constitution was driven by a deep commitment to inclusivity, dialogue and national unity,” Katjavivi said.
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