Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Veterans: Elections should not divide Namibians

Veterans: Elections should not divide Namibians

OKAKARARA – While admitting that elections naturally come with unpredictable outcomes and frenzied emotions that sometimes divide society, two prominent Swapo veterans have cautioned Namibians against being divided by this year’s election results. 

Speaking at Okakarara recently, two Swapo stalwarts Rahii Ua-Kahimise and Catch Visisiro, said Namibia has made significant strides over the past 34 years and more remains to be done to further improve the living standards of all Namibians.

Both Ua-Kahimise and Visisiro said Namibia, as a young democracy, will always be found wanting in some areas of economic development and social advancement, but that does not mean Namibians should destroy all the gains of the past three decades due to frustration. 

“Elections will always be a complicated process because not everyone will be happy with the outcome. With elections, always expect the unexpected and be ready to embrace each other when all is said and done. That is how democracy works; the winner must be humble enough to hold hands and move with the other colleagues who would have lost the race. Yes, there are problems in some areas but as Namibians, we have built a beautiful and peaceful

 country, and we must never destroy it because of temporary frustrations. We should never allow elections to divide us as a people, because we are one,” said Visisiro. 

He was one of Swapo’s formidable intelligence officers during the liberation struggle. 

He also condemned what he termed a growing tendencies of tribalism and partisan politics among the country’s youth, saying those are dangerous trends. 

“When we were in the bush and trenches trying to liberate our country, we all fought as one people and had each other’s backs. There were no Herero, Aawambo or Damara soldiers; we were just one army fighting for the motherland. Those were not easy times, but our unity was unshakable. We must maintain that same spirit as Namibians, even beyond these elections.”

Ua-Kahimise touched on the importance of Namibians embracing challenges as a united people, as opposed to individuals finding refuge in their tribes and political homes when things get tough.

“Namibia is the only home we have and even beyond the elections, we should come together and move forward. We cannot burn the country down because one or two people are not happy. Despite the many problems we have, let’s preserve what we have achieved as a country, and know that there is life after elections,” said Ua-Kahimise. 

Now a retired army colonel and residing at Omutukururu village in Okakarara constituency of Otjozondjupa region, Ua-Kahimise left the country in the early 60s with the aim to study abroad but later decided to take up arms after he was influenced by fellow freedom fighters he met in Tanzania.

-ohembapu@nepc.com.na