2016-08-08Staff Report 2 Oranjemund Oranjemund has honoured the former president Hifikepunye Pohamba by renaming a street after him. At the unveiling ceremony at the mining town last Friday, the former president could not hide his joy for being honoured in such a way. He said it was indeed a great honour for him and his family that the town council and residents of the town had decided to name a street, which intersects with Sam Nujoma Avenue, after him. The industrial street was renamed Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba Avenue. In his acceptance speech Pohamba expressed gratitude, saying this is the first time he has accepted to be honoured with a street name, adding that he had refused several offers from several towns. He explained that between 2005 and 2015 he had never accepted such a gesture as he was the president of the country and didn’t feel it was right to do so. But he said that now that he is no longer president it is the first time that he has accepted that his name be used as a street name. Pohamba said he was privileged and humbled to have a street named after him at a historic town like Oranjemund, and jokingly stated that his wife and former first lady, Penehupifo Pohamba, is more excited and happier than him. “This morning she said she wants to come and drive through this street,” he said. The former head of state then called on the town council and residents to help with the development of the town, stressing the need for the town to move away from its dependency on diamonds, and explore other sectors that can attract more investors. This, he says, will bring more employment opportunities for people at the town. Pohamba was however concerned many local authorities in the country are failing to keep their towns clean and urged the Oranjemund Town Council and residents to maintain the town’s clean status at all times. He further warned of what he termed destructive activities such as alcohol and drug abuse, saying these evils are the main cause of bad things happening in Namibia. “Beer is very destructive; from drinking, women are raped and killed and bad things happen, so let’s not allow this town to have these evil activities, let’s prevent that,” he stated. He said he does not say people at the town shouldn’t drink, but they should guard against a scenario where there is no street without a drinking outlet, as is the case in Windhoek’s Katutura. The former president was accompanied by the Minister of Information and Communication Technology Tjekero Tweya and the //Karas Regional Governor Lucia Basson. 2016-08-08Staff Report 2
