Tribalism threatens the nation-state

Home Editorial Tribalism threatens the nation-state

President Hage Geingob expressed concern this week over allegations that tribalism is still rife in the Zambezi Region. The president, on a visit to the northeastern regions of Zambezi and Kavango East, said tribal exclusion and divisions cannot have any place in a unitary state like Namibia – and he’s right.

Truth is that Zambezi, while clearly a hotspot for tribal disagreements, cannot be treated in isolation insofar as this ugly animal of tribalism is concerned. Tribalism has penetrated the fabric of Namibian society – including its politics.

Progressive Africans argue that tribalism is one of the most disruptive influences confronting the continent, and Namibia is clearly no exception in this regard. Tribalism has become the basis for hatred in institutions, be it political parties, schools or corporate institutions.

Without a total elimination of tribalism in all spheres of public life the unitary state will remain an aspiration.
Unfortunately it is not Geingob, the ruling party Swapo or a single tribal group that can solve this impasse. Without total commitment from every Namibian to fight tribalism, the country is destined to plunge into chaos as the struggle for power, influence and dominance escalates.

With the escalation of tribalism, the nation state comes under threat and ultimately, there would be no nationhood to talk about. It can even be argued, perhaps conservatively, that tribalism has become stronger than even racism, which between 1884 and 1990 dominated the socio-economic reality in our country.

This means that unfortunately after defeating the colonial white man, black Namibians have turned against each other as they scramble for the podium of power and dominance. The nation state, meanwhile, is in danger of coming apart.

Tribalism in many African countries is a problem, a political epidemic that squanders efforts in nation-building, social development, democracy, human rights, and peaceful coexistence of all citizens.

What is particularly worrying is when tribalism is used – not necessarily for the love of one’s own clan – but also as a tool to gain political and economic power. This, in other words, means elbowing away other Namibians from what is supposed to be part of the national cake.

Our leaders, especially those branded the Tanga Group in the ruling Swapo party, would testify to how Tanzania defied typical African tribalism – a benefit still enjoyed by its citizens to this day. Tanzania is still regarded as an African country with the highest degree of national self-consciousness.

Their Ujamaa initiative, a socialist system of village cooperatives based on equality of opportunity and self-help established in the 1960s, was key in making Tanzanians, in their millions, see themselves as one.

By the time Ujamaa came to an end in 1985, when Julius Nyerere stepped down from the presidency in favour of Ali Hassan Mwinyi, the majority of Tanzanians were already firmly devoted to nationhood, and perhaps the strength of its nation-building project is the reason why that country remains a shining example of stability in East Africa.
Indeed, like South Sudan Vice-President James Wani Igga once told his often-fragile country, “Tribalism will bury us if we don’t bury it”.

In opposing and exposing tribalism, Namibians should not forget their rich cultural heritages. Understanding and valuing cultural diversity are – in themselves – key to countering tribalism and cultivating mutual respect.

All individuals must feel free to explore the uniqueness of their culture and identity while developing an understanding of the rich and extraordinary cultural diversity that exists in the world around us.