Otniel Hembapu
Albertina Nakale
The government has warned that it will not rule out applying the “full force of the law” to crack down on renewed calls to secede the Zambezi region from Namibia.
A recent protest was led by the banned United Democratic Party (UDP) through in Katima Mulilo last week. The UDP, a Zambezi region-based party, whose activities were formally banned by the government in September 2006, last week led a group of demonstrators through the streets of Katima Mulilo against what they term political repression, human rights violations and decades-long injustices by the Namibian government.
Topping the UDP’s agenda was the renewed call for the secession and independence of the Zambezi region, formerly the Caprivi region/Strip, from the rest of Namibia.
The UDP also wants the government to immediately remove the army’s presence in the region. The UDP’s petition was signed by the party’s chairperson, Vasco Kabata.
It was read by secretary Ronnicah Sipiho, who in the petition called for the return of UDP exiled leader Mishake Muyongo, who currently resides in Denmark. The group had planned to deliver the petition to Zambezi regional governor Lawrence Sampofu, who did not show up to meet nor receive the UDP’s petition.
Warning
In a strongly worded statement yesterday, the government warned the banned UDP against staging unauthorised demonstrations.
It said the UDP’s latest attempt to resurrect calls for self-determination and territorial separation is intended to test the resolve of the current administration. “The calls for self-determination are not new, and represent a continuation of the same secessionist rhetoric that has been consistently rejected by the government and the people of Namibia since the failed armed rebellion of August 1999.
The government’s position on the territorial integrity of Namibia has not changed and will not change. The Zambezi region is and shall remain an integral part of our sovereign territory. The UDP’s demands for military withdrawal, prisoner releases and implementation of spurious historical agreements lack both legal foundation and constitutional validity,” said the government through the executive director of the information ministry Audrin Mathe.
The government cautioned that all options are on the table. It will not hesitate to unleash the full force of the law to ensure that Namibia’s territorial integrity is preserved, and that peace and stability are maintained.
“Any attempt to destabilise the peace and stability that has been carefully maintained in the Zambezi region or any other part of our country will be met with the full force of the law. The focus of this government remains steadfastly on providing jobs and essential services to the people of Namibia, including those in the Zambezi region, where significant investments continue to be made in infrastructure, education, healthcare and economic development,” Mathe said.
He added: “We do not wake up each morning to ventilate old grievances or relitigate settled questions about our nation’s territorial boundaries, but rather to advance the practical work of nation-building and development that benefits all Namibians”.
Genesis
Muyongo was at the forefront of a failed attempt on 2 August 1999 to secede the then-Caprivi region from Namibia. This consequently led to UDP supporters launching an armed rebellion against the government for the secession of the Caprivi Strip. But through swift and timely military action, Muyongo’s attempts to secede Caprivi were crushed by Namibian armed forces within days.
It led to the arrest of numerous UDP key figures on charges of sedition and treason, among others.
Meanwhile, member of Parliament and leader of the Zambezi region-based National Democratic Party (NDP) Martin Lukato Lukato recently distanced his party from the UDP and its agenda for the Zambezi region’s self-determination.
He clarified that NDP and UDP are not the same, as they are two different political parties with different ideologies, objectives and visions.
“NDP believes in inclusivity, peace and unity. The UDP, on the other hand, is the one advocating for a secession and self-determination of the Zambezi region. Namibians should not get confused or connect NDP to UDP. We never merged before, and there will not be such a merger. Therefore, people should not think that we too promote or advocate for a secession. We request not to be dirtied and punished because of UDP’s ideas,” said Lukato.
Bad blood
Famously known as the Caprivi conflict, the Muyongi-led UDP, through its armed rebel wing, the Caprivi Liberation Army (CLA), in August 1999 waged a brief insurrection for the secession of the Caprivi Strip against the Namibian government.
The CLA was formally formed in 1994 with the main goal of self-rule for Caprivi.
One cause of the conflict can be traced back to a previous power struggle between Muyongo and Swap0’s leadership during his exile in Angola.
In July 1980, Muyongo was ousted from being Swapo’s vice president after he was accused of being involved in subversive activities and pursuing secessionist ambitions. He was subsequently detained in Zambia and Tanzania, followed by an alleged purge against Caprivians in Swapo. After his return to Namibia in 1985, Muyongo formed the UDP, which joined the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA). He was president of the DTA from 1991 until he was expelled in 1998 for openly voicing his support for the secession of the Caprivi Strip from Namibia.
In October 1998, the Namibian Defence Force, with the support of the Special Field Force, discovered and raided a CLA training camp.
That resulted in more than 100 CLA rebels fleeing into Botswana. Among the refugees were the two leaders of the CLA, Muyongo and Mafwe leader Boniface Bebi Mamili, who were both later granted asylum in Denmark. Namibia unsuccessfully demanded Botswana and Denmark to hand over the two leaders. Then-leader Founding President Sam Nujoma called them “traitors and murderers”, who would be punished for their crimes.
On 2 August 1999, the CLA launched unanticipated attacks on the army base, border post and police station at Katima Mulilo, the regional capital of the Zambezi region.
They also stormed the State-run NBC radio station and Katima Mulilo Airport.
In the fighting that followed between rebel and government forces, 14 people were reportedly killed, including some civilians who were caught in the crossfire. A state of emergency was declared in the region. Government forces executed swift arrests of alleged CLA supporters. Shortly after the unsuccessful secession attempt by the CLA, about 3 000 people sought refuge in neighbouring Botswana for fear of reprisals from the Namibian government. They were granted refugee status and accommodated at the Dukwe camp. As of December 2015, there were still several hundred Namibians living in the camp, although an estimated 2 100 had since returned home.
-anakale@nepc.com.na