Zebaldt Ngaruka

OKATUMBA GATE – Following the announcement of the new Cabinet and other top positions by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, one of the recognised marginalised groups, the San, feel left out.

This dismay was registered by senior !Khung Traditional Authority councillor #Oma Auho Ngavetene, based in Tsumkwe.

He said the purported exclusion of the San is not just an oversight but a demonstration of disregard for the principles of unity and inclusivity under the ‘One Namibia, One Nation’ mantra.

“This exclusion sends a painful message that we, the San, are good enough to vote but not good enough to lead. Despite having qualified San graduates, including long-standing Swapo cadres, not a single individual from our tribe was considered for a decision-making position in her government,” Ngavetene lamented.  

The senior councillor continued, “This shows us that Namibia is only liberated to other tribes, not us. We are hurt. We will remember the late president Hage Geingob as a true leader who didn’t just speak of inclusion but acted on it.”

The traditional leader highlighted the appointment of  Royal Johan Kxao /Ui/o/oo, as a deputy minister by the previous administration, signalling genuine commitment to empower all Namibians, including those from marginalised communities.

Ngavetene, in contrast, said the current leadership appears to use the term ‘marginalised’ only when convenient as a political tool to silence and pacify the San community.

“We see no true commitment to lifting our people or integrating us into national decision-making processes. We are not asking for charity but asking for fairness, for recognition, and for equal opportunities,” he stated.

Ngavetene emphasised that there are educated and capable individuals in the San community ready to serve the country with integrity and dedication.

“By ignoring them in decision-making positions, it is not just an insult to our community but a betrayal of the very values that our nation was built upon,” the councillor said.

Ngavetene further recommended President Nandi-Ndaitwah reflect on the matter and for future appointees, like governors and others, to take corrective steps that show real commitment to unity, equity, and representation.

Echoing the same disappointment is the San youth activist Veronica Mishe, who said she felt let down by the lack of inclusivity and representation of all tribes in decision-making positions despite having cast her vote for Nandi-Ndaitwah in the previous election.

“The office of the marginalised communities is being used as nothing more than a tool to secure our votes. We are treated like voting cows, but when it comes to real empowerment, we are left out,” she said.

Mishe then called for fairness, meaningful inclusion, and true representation.

“We are not asking for favours but asking for equal opportunities to see our own people in positions where decisions are made, where our voices can influence the future of our communities. That is what real empowerment looks like,” Mishe emphasised.

The activist stated that the San community wants people who understand their problems better, who came from their roots, to be in decision-making positions.

“We are waiting for the next election again for sweet promises, afterwards exclusion and abundance,” she added. –zngaruka@yahoo.com