Africans in Namibia should be treated as guests and not as a nuisance, President Hage Geingob said in his May Day commemoration message.
They should also not be treated as intruders and Namibians should refrain from any form of violence or hatred towards non-Namibians, the President said in light of recent attacks on foreigners in neighbouring South Africa.
African immigrants in South Africa suffered the most in attacks that also targeted people of Asian origin.
Geingob’s message was delivered on his behalf by Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation Erkki Nghimtina on Friday. The President voiced his concern over the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, which left at least five people dead and several injured while many were displaced during the attacks.
He said Namibians should not forget that the country’s independence came about due to a collective effort from African countries that decided to stand up and fight the injustices that they witnessed Namibia experiencing at the hands of the former South African apartheid regime.
“These brothers and sisters from the frontline states and Nigeria, as it was known back then, had no obligation to fight our battle, but as Africans carrying the African spirit of Pan-Africanism, they decided to join the fight,” said the President.
“Therefore, we can never look at fellow Africans as a nuisance but as our comrades and guests that should be treated with respect.”
The President used the occasion to call upon all Africans to ensure the safety of all African children. “As we did in Harare last week during the [SADC] summit. We appreciated the actions taken by the South African government in addressing the situation in their country,” Geingob concluded.