Remove This Minister

ALLOW me a space in your newspaper to express myself on the sensitive issue of gays and lesbians in our country.

It raised eyebrows when Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration, Teopolina Mushelenga, recently repeated the Nujoma-Kapia anti-gay and lesbian-bashing of 15 years of their autocratic rule. Ms Mushelenga reportedly warned the youth, at Omalala, Oshana Region, not to let the “prophets of same-sex love” mislead them.Knowing where your rights end and where those of others start is a building block of tolerance.We do not necessarily need to agree with whatever others are practising, only to respect their rights to privacy and other freedoms.Where does homosexuality originate? If homosexuality is a sin in Africa, who invented the ancient vocabulary in Oshiwambo that has a link to homosexuality and was in use for centuries? 1.”eshenge” – referring to someone who is perceived as having changed his or her sexually orientated behaviour, attitude or character.2.”O/wa fa ho endwa konima…”- referring to a male person whose character and behaviour is sexually questionable by others.That means his way of walking, speaking (voice) or dressing differs from other persons of the same sex.3.”Omukiintulumentu/ omulumentu-kiintu” – referring to a person whose sexual orientation is not clear to those seeing him/her.The Deputy Minister is deliberately exposing the sexual minority to a dangerous environment where they can easily be killed.To say “homosexuality is an evil in our society and it is the source of the HIV-AIDS pandemic” is equal to a call for the elimination of those people.Where in the world has the African culture regarded the practice of homosexuality as a social evil? Does Ms.Mushelenga have any tangible example? In 1966 Lisias Vaino, also known as Niiye, was sentenced to have his eyes burnt out on four convictions of theft (And not for being a homosexual!) by Chief Martin Ashikoto.The removal of the eyes was common to the Ovambos.Even though the Chief’s act was regarded as barbarous and illegal by the then South African Administration, the Chief was only fined to some R500 or 500 days’ imprisonment.Theft and torture were the only common social evils.I call upon President Hifikepunye Pohamba to reconsider this woman’s position as a Deputy Minister.She wants to inherit Paulus Kapia’s unbecoming behaviour.She must be dropped from the House of Parliament! Ms Mushelenga was supposed to be a representative of all the people of Namibia (including gays and lesbians) and should in the performance of her duties be guided by the objectives of our Constitution, by the public interest and her conscience (Article 45).She is also seriously tarnishing the good image, name and reputation of the Mushelengas by talking wildly.Let’s face the common and real enemy: corruption.”Same-sex lovers” are productive members of our society.N Eino Via e-mail Note: This letter has been shortened – EdMs Mushelenga reportedly warned the youth, at Omalala, Oshana Region, not to let the “prophets of same-sex love” mislead them.Knowing where your rights end and where those of others start is a building block of tolerance.We do not necessarily need to agree with whatever others are practising, only to respect their rights to privacy and other freedoms.Where does homosexuality originate? If homosexuality is a sin in Africa, who invented the ancient vocabulary in Oshiwambo that has a link to homosexuality and was in use for centuries? 1.”eshenge” – referring to someone who is perceived as having changed his or her sexually orientated behaviour, attitude or character.2.”O/wa fa ho endwa konima…”- referring to a male person whose character and behaviour is sexually questionable by others.That means his way of walking, speaking (voice) or dressing differs from other persons of the same sex.3.”Omukiintulumentu/ omulumentu-kiintu” – referring to a person whose sexual orientation is not clear to those seeing him/her.The Deputy Minister is deliberately exposing the sexual minority to a dangerous environment where they can easily be killed.To say “homosexuality is an evil in our society and it is the source of the HIV-AIDS pandemic” is equal to a call for the elimination of those people.Where in the world has the African culture regarded the practice of homosexuality as a social evil? Does Ms.Mushelenga have any tangible example? In 1966 Lisias Vaino, also known as Niiye, was sentenced to have his eyes burnt out on four convictions of theft (And not for being a homosexual!) by Chief Martin Ashikoto.The removal of the eyes was common to the Ovambos.Even though the Chief’s act was regarded as barbarous and illegal by the then South African Administration, the Chief was only fined to some R500 or 500 days’ imprisonment.Theft and torture were the only common social evils.I call upon President Hifikepunye Pohamba to reconsider this woman’s position as a Deputy Minister.She wants to inherit Paulus Kapia’s unbecoming behaviour.She must be dropped from the House of Parliament! Ms Mushelenga was supposed to be a representative of all the people of Namibia (including gays and lesbians) and should in the performance of her duties be guided by the objectives of our Constitution, by the public interest and her conscience (Article 45).She is also seriously tarnishing the good image, name and reputation of the Mushelengas by talking wildly.Let’s face the common and real enemy: corruption.”Same-sex lovers” are productive members of our society.N Eino Via e-mail Note: This letter has been shortened – Ed