Rudolf Gaiseb and Heather Erdmann
Protestors who advocate for the recognition and remuneration of those who fought against the liberation struggle of Namibia, have gathered at Snyman’s Circle in Windhoek to focus attention on their cause.
The Stop Homosexuality and Same-Sex Marriages in Namibia Committee handed over a petition to the Minister in the Presidency, Christine //Hoebes, and police chief, Joseph Shikongo, on Saturday after camping at the Snyman Circle in Ausspannplatz in Windhoek for a week.
The committee consists of the former Koevoet and South West African Territorial Force (SWATF) members, struggle kids, traditional and church leaders, as well as refugees and citizens who have been camping at the circle since Monday last week.
The Presidency was impressed by their peaceful demonstration and their good conduct during the handover of the petition and promised a swift response.
They demanded that the President address serious challenges facing the Namibian people and address the “inhumane treatment” of some former Namibian refugees, as well as children born in the liberation struggle, once and for all.
The chairperson of the committee, Pendapala Nakathingo, said, “We are united to fight for our rights and protect our country and the future of our children by condemning and rejecting the satanic agenda of LGBTQ in Namibia. We, therefore, call upon the President of the Republic of Namibia to sign the Marriage and Spouse Bills without fear or favour.
“We have learnt through the media, where the President stated that he is ‘mum’ and does not know what to do. As President of Namibia and the head of State, an African by culture and a Christian by religion, you should always know what is in the best interest of your citizens.”
He further said, “Homosexuality and same-sex marriages are new concepts to Namibians and their non-existence in the Namibian statute book, and therefore, it is an issue that must have been left to Parliament for legislation not to be imposed on the Namibian people by the Judiciary.
“The judgement of the Supreme Court on same-sex marriages in Namibia is nothing but the Judiciary making its own laws.”
He added, “The Supreme Court has violated the doctrine of the separation of powers upon which our Constitution is based. The common law definition of marriage is a ‘voluntary union for life of one man and one woman, to the exclusion of others’. This definition remains part of our laws through Article 66 of the Namibian Constitution.”
The petition includes the demand to stop the discrimination of war veterans, ex-Koevoet, and SWATF members.
It stipulates that the government pays back N$36 million to SWATF members for their rehabilitation and resettlement.
“Despite the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) repatriation programme that was successfully implemented, the bone of contention is about the two programmes, namely, resettlement and rehabilitation. Why did the UNHCR fail to implement the two remaining programmes, such as resettlement and rehabilitation? What happened to the budgets of these programmes? Why were such programmes not implemented in Namibia by the United Nations, especially the UNHCR and its implementing partners?” the committee questioned.
They demand that all monthly welfare grants should be paid equally without discrimination.
Their suggestion is a monthly grant between N$15 000 and N$36 000 per month as a token of appreciation for the freedom and independence of Namibia.
The petition stipulates that all outstanding veterans’ projects funding must be finalised and paid before November 2024.
It also agitates for a basic income grant for every citizen, which the committee said should be N$2 000 per month.