Escalating tribal tensions in Kunene

RACIAL TENSIONS between the Damara and Herero communities in the Kunene Region escalated late yesterday, prompting the closure of the Regional Council Office at Opuwo.

The Police had to step in after an unruly Herero mob of protesters at the Council Office where mostly Damara-speaking public servants work. The tribally motivated tensions were sparked by the Herero- speaking school principal of the Grootberg Primary School who is embroiled in a row with parents, traditional leaders and the farming community in the region.

The incensed Damara parents of children at Grootberg Primary School took the radical step of locking the school premises and dozens of Police were deployed since Tuesday to keep the peace at the settlement of Erweë where the demonstrations began. In revenge, the OtjiHererospeaking community at Opuwo threatened action against the Damara/Nama-speaking public servants at the Regional Council Offices at Opuwo. A

nd when Deputy Minister of Education, Dr David Namwandi, turned up yesterday at the Grootberg Primary School to settle the dispute between the school principal and the community he could not deliver any positive results. Instead he caused unease amongst the Damara-speaking community. Dr Namwandi and the Governor of the Kunene Region, Joshua Hoebeb, as well as the Regional Councilor and the Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism attended the meeting, but went home unsuccessful. The Deputy Minister apparently told the gathering that he will to come back to the school after certain investigations are complete in Windhoek.

“The Police forced the community to open the school gates on instructions of the Deputy Minister, but the community decided not to bring their children back to school until a lasting solution is found to their grievances. “Our move is not tribally motivated, as we, from the outset, welcomed the principal with open arms when he was transferred to our village.

We even gave him a place where he can farm. We even welcomed his wife and children amidst us. But then he changed and become a threat to our existence,” one of the community members told Namibian Sun telephonically.

click to enlarge Dr David Namwandi