The President’s Name In Vain

IN your editions of June 1 and 6, your newspaper published an article in Oshiwambo written by Oswald Shivute (Ovakwahapulile tava ti ova loloka omahomono) about a letter allegedly sent to The Namibian by the children of Tileinge Hapulile, who was designated by the Ondonga Tribal Authority to become senior headman of Ehonghola village but rejected by villagers.

Hapulile’s children are reported to have stated in the alleged letter that they are tired of the daily attacks and victimisation against their father and family by those claiming to have been instructed by the current President of the Republic of Namibia to order for Tileinge Hapulile and his family to leave Ekonghola village because it is allegedly part of the Oukwanyama area and not that of Ondonga. The Hapulile children are reported to have stated in the letter that those who have been attacking them have done so for the last eight months.Those attackers regularly coming from Ekoka are accompanied by government officials including the Councillor, the allegations continue.The Hapulile children also alleged they are denied water on the instructions of the current President.The allegations continue that the children are claiming that those attackers use the name of the President even in the presence of Police officers, thus making them to believe that it is the President sending them.The question whether the President is representing the entire country and its people, or is exclusively the President for the Ovakwanyama, is reportedly asked in the letter.It must be stated here that the article in question is very dangerous in the sense that it is instigating people along tribal lines and thus has a divisive effect.It seeks to involve President Hifikepunye Pohamba in tribal gimmicks.The President, like many other Namibians, knows well the devastating effects tribalism has on any given country.We want to categorically state clearly that under no circumstances would the President have given instructions to people to attack or victimise others at any place in the length and breadth of the Republic of Namibia, including Ekonghola village.The Ekonghola issue has been in the media for some time now.It is an issue that falls under the jurisdiction of a traditional authority, where it should be resolved within the parameters of the traditional and/or national laws such as the Traditional Authority Act.The President should therefore not be drawn into this issue, especially in the context in which the alleged letter attempts to do.Article 10 (2) of the Namibian Constitution reads: “No persons shall be discriminated against on the grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or economic status.”Article III – B (4) of the Swapo Party Constitution reads: “to combat retrogressive tendencies of tribalism, ethnicity, nepotism, racism, sexism, chauvinism, regionalism, personality, cult, etc”.President Pohamba is one of the authors of those constitutions that he respects.He has taken an oath that he will endeavour to the best of his ability to ensure justice for all the inhabitants of the Republic of Namibia.Should the allegations be true that there are people who are victimising the Hapulile family, they should stop forthwith and no person under any circumstance should make use of the President’s name for reasons that may be known to themselves.Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah Minister: Information & Broadcasting.The Hapulile children are reported to have stated in the letter that those who have been attacking them have done so for the last eight months.Those attackers regularly coming from Ekoka are accompanied by government officials including the Councillor, the allegations continue.The Hapulile children also alleged they are denied water on the instructions of the current President.The allegations continue that the children are claiming that those attackers use the name of the President even in the presence of Police officers, thus making them to believe that it is the President sending them.The question whether the President is representing the entire country and its people, or is exclusively the President for the Ovakwanyama, is reportedly asked in the letter.It must be stated here that the article in question is very dangerous in the sense that it is instigating people along tribal lines and thus has a divisive effect.It seeks to involve President Hifikepunye Pohamba in tribal gimmicks.The President, like many other Namibians, knows well the devastating effects tribalism has on any given country.We want to categorically state clearly that under no circumstances would the President have given instructions to people to attack or victimise others at any place in the length and breadth of the Republic of Namibia, including Ekonghola village.The Ekonghola issue has been in the media for some time now.It is an issue that falls under the jurisdiction of a traditional authority, where it should be resolved within the parameters of the traditional and/or national laws such as the Traditional Authority Act.The President should therefore not be drawn into this issue, especially in the context in which the alleged letter attempts to do.Article 10 (2) of the Namibian Constitution reads: “No persons shall be discriminated against on the grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or economic status.”Article III – B (4) of the Swapo Party Constitution reads: “to combat retrogressive tendencies of tribalism, ethnicity, nepotism, racism, sexism, chauvinism, regionalism, personality, cult, etc”.President Pohamba is one of the authors of those constitutions that he respects.He has taken an oath that he will endeavour to the best of his ability to ensure justice for all the inhabitants of the Republic of Namibia.Should the allegations be true that there are people who are victimising the Hapulile family, they should stop forthwith and no person under any circumstance should make use of the President’s name for reasons that may be known to themselves.Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah Minister: Information & Broadcasting.