President’s Uncalled-For Attack

PLEASE allow me to answer the Namibian President on his uncalled for, very unreasonable and unjustifiable attack on the Universal churches and Jehovah’s Witnesses in Namibia.

Nujoma’s attacks on the churches are annoying and cannot go unchallenged. The attacks do not in any way reflect a Namibian sentiment.Of all things, why has Nujoma decided to persecute the church? It doesn’t make sense.But, what makes sense is a well-known and documented fact: When the President is not reading a prepared speech, he is bound to make a blunder, attacking and insulting wrong people for wrong reasons.A regrettable fact that embarrasses our government.The signals he is sending are scary.It reminds me of a saying: “What a young man cannot see while standing, an old man can see while seated”.No wonder Herero Paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako contemplated a federal form of government.It was all for self preservation.Does the President know that the Namibian Constitution guarantees every person the right to practice his religion? I am sorry he does not know.The biggest mistake that Namibians did was to call him “Father of the Nation” and giving him an honorary doctorate degree.When interviewed by the BBC, Nujoma proudly spoke of his God known as Kalunga Ka Nangombe (God of Cattle).Disappointingly, in that interview he claimed that was the God Africans believed in.I believe the President should pack and go – he has overstayed his welcome in State House.The 21st Century needs more visionary leadership than someone who still believes in being in the bush waging the liberation struggle.Nujoma needs to understand that Namibians are not born from the same father and same mother – we are a different people with different backgrounds and cultures.Therefore, nationhood should not steal from us our beliefs, norms and values.Nationhood does not mean a faceless nation, but preservation of our tribal and ethnic background is an essential ingredient in nation building and the multicultural society we live in.Was the Namibian independence meant to make the San community Chiefless, the Ovahimba landless, the Caprivians prisoners and exiles? Who was spared under your leadership? The Hereros you interfered with their traditional chieftainship, the Basters you sent troops to discipline, the whites you insult day and night.Joseph Mulife Muchali Canada Via e-mailNote: This letter has been shortened – EdThe attacks do not in any way reflect a Namibian sentiment.Of all things, why has Nujoma decided to persecute the church? It doesn’t make sense.But, what makes sense is a well-known and documented fact: When the President is not reading a prepared speech, he is bound to make a blunder, attacking and insulting wrong people for wrong reasons.A regrettable fact that embarrasses our government.The signals he is sending are scary.It reminds me of a saying: “What a young man cannot see while standing, an old man can see while seated”.No wonder Herero Paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako contemplated a federal form of government.It was all for self preservation.Does the President know that the Namibian Constitution guarantees every person the right to practice his religion? I am sorry he does not know.The biggest mistake that Namibians did was to call him “Father of the Nation” and giving him an honorary doctorate degree.When interviewed by the BBC, Nujoma proudly spoke of his God known as Kalunga Ka Nangombe (God of Cattle).Disappointingly, in that interview he claimed that was the God Africans believed in.I believe the President should pack and go – he has overstayed his welcome in State House.The 21st Century needs more visionary leadership than someone who still believes in being in the bush waging the liberation struggle.Nujoma needs to understand that Namibians are not born from the same father and same mother – we are a different people with different backgrounds and cultures.Therefore, nationhood should not steal from us our beliefs, norms and values.Nationhood does not mean a faceless nation, but preservation of our tribal and ethnic background is an essential ingredient in nation building and the multicultural society we live in.Was the Namibian independence meant to make the San community Chiefless, the Ovahimba landless, the Caprivians prisoners and exiles? Who was spared under your leadership? The Hereros you interfered with their traditional chieftainship, the Basters you sent troops to discipline, the whites you insult day and night.Joseph Mulife Muchali Canada Via e-mailNote: This letter has been shortened – Ed