By Frederick Philander
WINDHOEK
Namibia is currently being projected to the outside world as a dangerously violent society due to the persisting and ongoing violence in the country.
So said Bishop Zephania Kameeta yesterday. He was the keynote speaker at the 12th cultural festival of the Polytechnic of Namibia. Hundreds of students attended the official opening of the five-day event.
“We cannot blame others for accusing us of nurturing a violent culture because seemingly the country is one big butchery with all the violence occurring everywhere. It is the truth, we are presently experiencing a culture of brutal violence of which we all should be ashamed of,” said Kameeta, who celebrated his 62nd birthday yesterday.
According to him, there are elements in the society that sow the seeds of hatred and violence daily.
“This is evident in schools where teachers are threatened with violence as well as in streets. People are scared for their lives and others are stressed out because of all the violence. We cannot expect development to take place in the country under such violent conditions,” he warned.
He urged Namibians to apply more tolerance and acceptance towards each other.
“We need to hold hands and listen more to each other. We need to break away from our rigid, tribal and politicized ways of thinking. We need unity in diversity. You as young people must change this wrong thinking because to be ethnically exclusive is wrong and unacceptable.
“In fact, I am really surprised and shocked at young people following in the footsteps of the old guard, not talking to each other due to politics and tribalism,” the internationally respected churchman said.
He also accused Namibians of misunderstanding freedom and independence.
“Because of a lack of a proper sense of responsibility, things are neglected in many societal spheres. Yes, it goes without saying, freedom goes hand in hand with responsibility. Without responsibility freedom is reckless and dangerous.
“One cannot claim to be free without responsibility. One cannot go around to hurt, maim and kill people and claim that you did not know what you were doing. You have to accept responsibility for your own deeds,” he warned.
In the bishop’s view Namibians socially lack large-scale self-discipline.
“People normally drink to have the courage to do bad things and to destroy others by all these killings instead of saying no. We need to learn to discern between right and wrong, if we are to build a nation in which we ought to take care of each other.
“We also need to inculcate a culture of caring, respect and love for each other if we are to achieve the noble goals of Vision 2030,” he said.
At the same occasion the Vice-Rector of the Polytechnic of Namibia, Dr Gert Gunzel, emphasized the importance of Namibian culture in relation to the world.
“In this rapidly changing and complex world, the importance of culture cannot be underestimated. Culture is the way we learn to look at the world and how we function in it.
“It is necessary for every community to have a deeper understanding of its own ethnic cultures and share knowledge and experience with other Namibians.
“A people’s culture must be understood as such people’s shared values, world views and ways of knowing and understanding their existence and ways of living. As society and times change, so will cultural development as culture cannot remain static,” Gunzel said.