Marythar Kambinda
KATIMA MULILO – Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged the nation to safeguard against tendencies of using culture to bring divisions.
“Our cultural beliefs, behaviours and norms must be a source of inspiration that will lead us to a strong proud Namibian nation,” she said in a speech read on her behalf during the Batshara Annual Cultural Festival on Sunday at Sangwali in Judea Lyabboloma.
“If we are to take our country and its people to higher heights, we must not compromise on unity for development to be realised.”
She further said good cultural behaviours are critical in the area of development.
“I specifically want to refer to environmental protection, where over the years cultural behaviour and practices have been at the forefront of environmental protection,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Hundreds of the Mayeyi community and other ethnic groups gathered at Sangwali in Judea Lyabboloma, the traditional seat of Chief Boniface Shufu of the Mayeyi Traditional Authority, on Sunday to celebrate the Batshara Annual Cultural Festival.
The festival, which has not taken place since 2019 due to the Covid-19 outbreak, was celebrated under the theme, ‘Promoting Culture for Development and Unity’. The festivities aim to acknowledge the Mayeyi culture through food and dance, and it had a line-up of activities for the day.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said for any nation, culture is very important because culture and heritage reflect and shape people’s values, beliefs and aspirations, thereby defining a people’s national identity.
“It is important to preserve our cultural heritage because it keeps our integrity as peoples, it enables us to maintain social cohesion and stability while at the same time providing a sense of continuity and collective identity, and it serves as a moral guide to our individual lives,” she said.
In his message, the Mayeyi chief pointed out that the festival is not aimed at celebrating an individual clan or person, but it is for all the Bayeyi clans – from years of slavery, colonialism and apartheid to the independence of our country up until now.
He further said the event offers a sense of belonging, “as it encourages us to seek audience with the elders in the community to share stories and experiences regarding unity among families and respect for elders”. Other dignitaries, including urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni, Zambezi governor Lawrence Sampofu, regional and local authority councillors as well as other traditional authority leaders within the region, including guests from neighbouring Botswana, also graced the occasion.
* Marythar Kambinda is an information officer for the MICT in the Zambezi region.