Renthia Kaimbi
The United Democratic Front (UDF) regional candidate for the Daures constituency, Amingo Honeb, has denied making tribal remarks after a screenshot of a conversation attributed to him surfaced online.
The screenshot shows Honeb responding to criticism that “Tatamutsi in its current form is a total mess. Erongo Regional Council failed to properly demarcate plots.”
Honeb, who is the chief administrative officer at the Erongo Regional Council’s settlement office in Uis, responded that the council was in an “advanced stage with the formalisation of Tatamutsi” and that a company had been appointed to begin the process.
He allegedly added, “That mess must be blamed on our northerners who are flocking to Uis for employment opportunities,” a remark interpreted as targeting Aawambo people from northern Namibia.
Honeb also said an aerial map of Tatamutsi had been taken two years earlier and that “many of those illegal shacks will be moved,” though it was unclear if he meant moved or removed.
When contacted for comment, Honeb denied authoring the remarks.
“I’m in a very important meeting. Call me after two or three hours. But I did not say that. I can show you on the WhatsApp group,” he said.
Erongo Regional Council’s chief regional officer, Mupenzeni Ntelamo, condemned Honeb’s remarks, adding that the ERC will launch an investigation into the matter to establish the context in which these remarks were made.
“Such remarks are tribal and derogatory. The ERC has no link whatsoever and disassociates itself, wholly, from such,” said Ntelamo.
Communities warned that the comments could inflame regional tensions as Uis is discussing breaking away from the Erongo Regional Council to establish its own local authority.
“As a political candidate, his comments are violating the principles of social cohesion and nation-building. It was wrong for him to make those comments as a public official,” said one source.
Political analyst Marius Kudumo said tribal stereotypes must be condemned without exception.
“Any racial or tribal expressions are inconsistent with the values and principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia. However, Namibians should not be selective in condemning tribal remarks and practices, especially resource allocation and appointments, but rather be honest and consistent when condemning tribalism and ethnicity irrespective of who is practising it,” he said.
Human rights activist Phil ya Nangoloh took a different view.
“They are not and must not be construed as tribal because the word ‘northerners’ does not refer to one specific tribe or ethnic group or racial group for legal or constitutional purposes,” he said.
