OUTAPI -The Nationhood and National Pride (NNP) campaign under the theme ‘My Namibia, My Country, My Pride’ took part in this year’s Olufuko Cultural Festival at Outapi in Omusati Region. The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) is spearheading the campaign.
Following the recent approval by Cabinet of the NNP Strategic Plan, the ministry’s campaign team deemed it fit to revitalise the campaign momentum and be visible at the Heroes Day Commemoration at Omugulugwombashe, the Olufuko Cultural Festival and the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair. The team distributed promotional materials, conducted live debates on issues related to nationhood and national pride through interpersonal communication, talk shows on radios and television.
“As a ministry spearheading this campaign, we participated in Olufuko festival this year with the aim of creating awareness about the Nationhood and National Pride campaign which was launched by His Excellency President Hifikepunye Pohamba on April 27, 2011. One of the objectives of the campaign is the promotion and preservation of our indigenous cultures and national pride among our citizens and hence our participation in the Olufuko festival to learn and see how best we can enhance and support each other as a nation,” said the Director of Print Media Affairs in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Tjiuai Kaambo, under which the campaign falls.
Kaambo said such a platform would ensure a continued preservation of local cultural norms and tradition which otherwise could have been eroded with the arrival of western cultures. She said all over the world nations strive to protect and preserve their cultures and Namibia should not be an exception.
“At Olufuko, we witnessed how traditional clay pots are made and how a traditional Oshiwambo homestead looks like. This was an enlightening exercise in educating our young people about our culture and traditions”, she said.
The Nationhood and National Pride campaign came about as a result of government’s commitment to promote national pride among citizens and educate them on the dangers of tribalism, alcohol abuse, violence against women and children as well as vandalism of public property.
Kaambo said this year the ministry has lined up a number of activities aimed at creating awareness about the campaign countrywide including the establishment of national and regional structures which will oversee the implementation of the campaign in its entirety.
By Pinehas Nakaziko