President praises peace policy
By Anna Nakambale and Esau Muzeu

Promises ‘continuity with a purpose’
President Hifikepunye Pohamba took oath for his second and last term as President, heaping praises on the country’s policy of national reconciliation which had kept Namibia in harmony and at peace with itself for the past 20 years, saying that Namibians must embrace their diverse cultures and continue on the path of peace, security and stability.

“We must rally together as one people with a common destiny,” he said to a cheering crowd. “We must consolidate the foundation for peace for our children and their children’s children. Now, more than ever, we must stand united.

“Just as unity was vital during the liberation struggle, it is still a very important element for the implementation of our common objectives. A divided community wastes valuable time in internal wrangles that can only sap its strength and cause its failure. This must be avoided at all costs.”

Independence Stadium in Windhoek was full to capacity, graced by the presence of sitting and former Heads of State and Government, such as Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who received a long standing ovation, South African President Jacob Zuma, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Zambian President Pupia Banda, DRC President Joseph Kabila, Mozambique’s Armando Guebuza, Botswana’s Lt General Ian Khama and Congo Brazzaville’s Denis Sassou Ngwesso. Cuba sent its Vice President, Esteban Lazo Hernandez.

Among the former Heads of State who attended the occasion were Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda, Botswana’s Quett Masire and Festus Mogae, Finland’s Martti Ahtisaari and Mozambique’s Joachim Chisano. The widow of Angola’s first President, Maria Eugenia Neto, also attended. She was married to Angola’s first President, the late Antonio Agostihno Neto. The wife of former South African President Zanele Mbeki also attended.

Most of these countries supported SWAPO during Namibia’s liberation struggle. The Frontline States, among them Angola and Zambia, suffered the most as they were constantly attacked militarily by the then apartheid regime of South Africa for hosting and supporting Namibia’s freedom fighters under SWAPO.

“We will forever remember our heroes and heroines who inspired us to fight for freedom and independence,” said President Pohamba. “We fought many battles. We crossed many rivers of blood and we won a decisive victory on 21st March 1990.

“I am humbled to see so many of our friends, brothers and sisters who represent the international community on this very special occasion. Our nation will forever be grateful to the fact that Namibia gained her independence under the banner of international solidarity, freedom and justice.

“We value the diplomatic and material support we received at our time of need. I am aware that some nationals of the then Frontline Line States lost their lives as a result of the war for national liberation.

“This, notwithstanding, our brothers and sisters stood firm and never wavered. We will always be grateful for the invaluable support we received from them.”

The president committed his government to improving the standard living of the people, saying that his government would continue to invest heavily in education, health, agriculture, housing, infrastructure, rural development, tourism and other development projects as outlined in NDP3, (Third National Development Plan.)

He said Namibia’s entire spectrum of agriculture should be explored and harnessed to its fullest extent in order to achieve food security. The private and public sectors, as well as research institutions, must become fully involved in the quest to achieve that objective.

“Therefore,” he said, “wherever there is arable land, a river, a dam, a borehole or a well that can yield enough water for cultivation efforts, such resources must be utilized to boost food production.

“I have no doubt that a successful agricultural sector will go a long way in addressing unemployment among our citizens. It will also address the socio-economic plight of our peasants.”

The President also addressed the needs of the people in rural areas, where the majority of the people live, eking out a living on marginal lands without the necessary tools to engage in meaningful modern agricultural economy.

“Their activities have been reduced to subsistence agriculture,” he said. “This difficult existence is compounded by the absence of public services and social amenities such as water, electricity, housing, healthcare and education facilities in some areas.

“This state of affairs in rural areas is duplicated in informal settlements on the periphery of many of our towns and cities. I have visited many of these areas and believe that drastic steps must be taken by our government to find a durable solution to this situation.”

The President paid tribute to the workers, whose labour, sweat and dedication had transformed Namibia’s economy from colonial to a free and participatory economy.

“It is their toil that continues to sustain and nourish our economy,” he said. “It is their toil that continues to give us the means to pursue the nation’s developmental goals.

“I believe that we can only become a winning nation if we improve productivity in order to create wealth for our nation. Workers are at the forefront and therefore they should take a lead in this regard.”

President Pohamba peppered the youth with some praises, saying that they were a transmitting belt of Namibia’s vision and programmes. The role they played in the struggle for independence and the development of Namibia should not be underestimated. He said that many of them were now serving in the army, police and prison services.

“They play a crucial role in the defence and security of our nation,” he said. “Namibia can only leap forward into the frontiers of the 21st century if our youth play a positive role in the development of our country.

“We therefore salute our youth for mobilizing their fellow youth, especially the ‘born-frees’ to participate in last year’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in big numbers. Education and training should continue to take centre stage in order to prepare our youth as leaders of tomorrow.”