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Home / Swartbooi warms against historical distortions
Swartbooi warms against historical distortions
2015-03-02Staff Report 2 LÜDERITZ - //Kharas Governor, Bernadus Swartbooi last Friday reminded residents that it is important to reflect on Lüderitz’s proper history lest its past is distorted. He made the remarks at the annual Lüderitz Crayfish Festival gala dinner held at a hotel in Lüderitz last Friday. He noted that it is important “we recognize history from time to time”, and stressed that the proposed name change for the town is a national issue rather than a political issue. He spoke strongly against minority political parties that want to use the name-change to gain political mileage. “We must not play with issues of history; we must return to our heritage by renaming our town after colonialism. Those who call themselves Lüderitz Buchters, why can’t they also call themselves !Nami#nus Buchters?” questioned Swartbooi. He reminisced on how Europeans came to find his ancestors in Lüderitz, but they did not discover them. Therefore, the place will be renamed in the way they know it, and those willing to go to court are free to do so. He also answered those who thought their businesses would be affected by the name change, saying the name change will not hit their businesses, as it will also not change the fish in the sea. He described those against the name change as ‘pedestrians’ suggesting that, they are not well informed on the matter, as there will still be fish in the sea, the roads will still be there, and the town will not change. The governor met with mixed responses, as in the room some shook their heads, while others seemed to agree. The gala dinner raised more than N$300 000, with Standard Bank donating N$60 000, NovaNam and NovaShip N$30 000, while Oruhapo, one of the mass housing constructing projects in Lüderitz and Seaflower each donated N$20 000. Namport and NamDeb each donated N$15 000 while the //Kharas Regional Councillor’s Office and the //Kharas Governors’ Office, Lüderitz Waterfont, Old Mutual, NSI and Rosh Pinah Zink donated N$10 000 followed. Other firms also pledged. His Excellency Girado Mazola, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba in Namibia and his wife Mazora were also among those who attended the gala dinner. 2015-03-02Staff Report 2
