Hertta-Maria Amutenja
Residents of Gobabis in the Omaheke region have expressed anger over the decision to hold the regional memorial service for the late founding president Sam Nujoma at Buitepos, a border post between Namibia and Botswana, instead of in Gobabis.
The event was on Tuesday, with buses transporting attendees from Gobabis to Buitepos.
Sike Kandjimi, a resident of Gobabis, questioned why the service isn’t held in a place where the majority can attend easily.
“People want to be free to walk to a venue nearby, not travel over 100 kilometres. The requirement to register with councillors for transport is also discouraging, especially for elderly people,” said Gobabis resident Sike Kandjimi.
Gobabis local authority councillor Sylvester Binga said he was not aware of the decision to hold the memorial at Buitepos.
“If there were consultations, I am not aware of them,” he said.
Omaheke governor Pio Nganate defended the decision, citing historical significance leading to the decision to host it at Buitepos.
“Nujoma left Namibia through Buitepos to Botswana. We also considered Botswana’s role in the liberation struggle. We have arranged transport for 2 000 people from across the region. Also looked into the significance of the role that Botswana has played in getting the president out of Namibia to Botswana. We went to have a meeting with the district council in Botswana, and those people were directly involved,” Nganate said.
He said the region also wanted to allow Batswana to honour Nujoma.
“We wanted to give them the opportunity to come and mourn the departure of the president from this earth,” said Nganate.
Otjombinde constituency councillor Wenzel Kavaka supported the move.
“I am in support of the memorial being held at the border post because when the Founding Father left for exile, he went through the border. We are just following his footsteps,” Kavaka said.
