I Am deeply moved (mainly) to astonishment and still reeling from shock over the decision made by the 4th Delimitation Commission to rename Caprivi to Zambezi region.
As a resident of Caprivi, born and bred on that land, I have embraced the African heritage including the name Caprivi. I feel that the inhabitants of Caprivi have been deprived of their democratic rights and not only that but stripped of their identity. The name Zambezi region is being forcefully imposed on the inhabitants of Caprivi. Residents of Caprivi were not actively involved and no proper consultations were done in the renaming process.
The name Zambezi, Lyambezi or Lyambai which means great river when translated in Silozi, benefits only two-fifths of the inhabitants of Caprivi. To say that Caprivi is a colonial name is another lame excuse, as there are still other regions, states and even towns that bear colonial names.
I would like to pose a question (but please pardon my curiosity) – will Zambezi wipe out the name “great Caprivi” on the face of that finger shaped region? On contrary, the inhabitants of Caprivi region will witness the demise of the name Zambezi as the majority of the inhabitants favours Caprivi over Zambezi.
The decision made by the 4th delimitation commission must be reconsidered and reversed for better. Democracy is the rule of people by people and not by a few individuals.
Concerned Citizen
Likando Sanyambe