Outapi
Founding president Dr Sam Nujoma cautioned parents to teach children good behaviour, saying a badly behaved child will never become a future leader or a useful citizen.
Nujoma also called on parents to promote cultural values, traditional norms and heritage among the youth.
“Let us adopt the positive values of our culture and traditional norms so that we mould and promote our own cultural identity,” stressed the elder statesman.
He said children should be encouraged to appreciate and develop an interest in cultural values and traditional norms.
“It has been observed that a large number of our people, especially our youth, have lost interest in our culture. In this regard I would like to inform our youth that when they neglect their own cultural norms and values, they will lose their identity and self-esteem,” advised Nujoma.
Nujoma made the remarks at the fourth annual trade fair gala dinner held at Outapi on Friday. The event raised about N$2.5 million, the highest amount since Olufuko’s inception four years ago. Nujoma, its patron, pledged N$5 000 towards hosting the event.
Nujoma further cautioned elders to be exemplary citizens. According to Nujoma, many children are left to fend for themselves, while their parents neglect their homes in pursuit of alcohol and pleasure. In this environment of disorder, he said, children follow in the footsteps of parents.
Nujoma also appealed to men to stop gender-based violence.
So far 74 girls have already been registered for the popular initiation event. The number has grown from 17 girls in 2012 to about 84 girls last year.
Denouncing cohabitation, Chief Herman Iipumbu of the Uukwambi Traditional Authority remarked that the Olufuko festival cannot be compared to cohabitation.
He said girls who partake in the initiation ceremony can continue with school and can go to university without any limitation. “Olufuko is not a system where a man takes in a woman without the parents’ approval,” said Iipumbu.
He however stressed that there is a dire need to educate society about traditional norms, “because some modern rules are being enforced to create hatred of old traditional norms”.