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Monday, September 10, 2001 - Web posted at 9:09:02 am GMT Govt policy on Kxoe under fireCHRISPIN INAMBAOTHE opposition Congress of Democrats has accused President Sam Nujoma and some of his political lieutenants of suppressing the rights of the Kxoe tribe. The minority Kxoe, who number roughly over 6 000, are widely regarded as the most neglected ethnic group in Namibia. Government has refused to recognise their chieftainship. It wants them to be ruled by another tribe. Ironically the contentious refusal to recognise the tribe surfaced just as Namibian officials were attending the historic United Nations conference on racism in Durban to demand compensation for "past injustices". In a strongly-worded statement, CoD Secretary General Ignatius Shixwameni stated: "It is with great regret that we continue to notice the disdain and disrespect by the Swapo administration, particularly the President and some Ministers, of social and ethnic minority groups in our country." "It is disheartening and indeed completely unacceptable that a democratically elected majority black government is now responsible for suppressing and oppressing minority groups, denying them their constitutionally enshrined rights to freely practice their culture, customs and traditions." "The CoD said it will no longer leave unchallenged the growing litany of hypocrisy that is displayed when Government deals with different ethnic groups." "It comes out clear that the Swapo administration pursues a double standard policy position in the treatment of the various ethnic and cultural groups in our country, depending on the political interest of the governing South West Africa People's Organisation," stated the top CoD official. CoD advised Government to stop treating various ethnic groups differently, and strongly condemned "the unfair treatment being meted out to the Kxoe people, and dismiss this with the contempt it deserves". "The Kxoe people, like all other ethnic groups in our country, are entitled to recognition as an ethnic group on their own and their leaders and must be recognised as such with immediate effect," he stated. Government insists that the Kxoe tribe should not have a chief and that they should resort under the leadership of controversial Mbukushu leader, Erwin Munika Mbambo. This decision has been executed despite the fact that the Kxoe language, tribal customs and traditions are completely different to that of the Mbukushu's. Even the Regional, Local Government and Housing Minister is aware of the difference. In recent correspondence, Minister Nickey Iyambo acknowledged this fact when he stated that the Kxoe will be allowed "to practice their culture, customs and language freely". But, Iyambo said: "There is no reason why a Kxoe traditional authority must be established," adding: "there is no history of chieftainship in the Kxoe community ....and historically that area appears to have belonged to the Mbukushu community." Shixwameni disagrees. He said to state that "the land of the Kxoe belonged throughout history to the Hambukushu people is to twist history and tell an historic untruth". Mbambo, whose leadership is being imposed on the Kxoe, was ousted by his own tribe in two tribal referendums. His questionable chieftainship is ironically recognised by the Government where he has powerful political allies. |
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