Tribalism is rearing its ugly head in Namibia. What was once whispered in hushed tones has now found a loudspeaker in burning food stalls, toxic social media narratives, and widening social fault lines.
The recent incident in Otjinene — where food stalls belonging to Aawambo and Ovazemba people were torched, reportedly by members of the Ovaherero community — is not just an isolated act of criminality. It is a symptom of a deeper, more dangerous illness spreading through our national fabric: a growing sense of ethnic resentment.
The background to this violent escalation is as tragic as it is telling. The tribal tensions, which pit members of the OtjiHerero-speaking community against members of other tribes, mostly O Aawambo and Zemba, began following the murder of 29-year-old Tjijandjeua Gift Herunga, an OtjiHerero-speaking young man, last week Thursday. What began as an act of individual violence has spiraled into collective punishment, ethnic scapegoating, and retaliatory destruction. This is how dangerous tribal thinking spreads: it blames the group for the crime of the individual, and it replaces justice with vengeance.
Even more concerning is the creeping normalization of tribal stereotypes online — particularly the sentiment that those from the Aawambo tribe are disproportionately involved in corruption or are the only ones “eating.” While it is true that some tribes have had more access to state power and economic opportunity, reducing national inequality to a tribal binary is intellectually lazy and socially destructive. It glosses over the structural, historical, and policy-driven dynamics of inequality in Namibia, and replaces them with simplistic scapegoating.
Let’s be clear: tribalism is not culture. It is not pride in one’s heritage. It is the weaponization of identity to exclude, dehumanize, or dominate others. And history has shown us, across the continent, what happens when tribalism becomes the organising principle of a state — Rwanda, South Sudan, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire — the list is long and bloody. Namibia must not add its name to that list.
Samora Machel’s haunting words echo today more than ever: “For the nation to live, the tribe must die.” Nyerere was not calling for the erasure of cultural identity — he was calling for a new civic identity, one where national belonging takes precedence over ethnic allegiance. And that, right now, is what Namibia desperately needs: not more tribal solidarity, but a shared national project.
So, what must be done?
1. A National Dialogue on Ethnic Equity
We need an open, honest, and fearless national conversation about tribe, privilege, and power. Government, civil society, traditional authorities, the media, and youth movements must be at the forefront of this. We must confront the difficult truths — including how access to opportunity, government appointments, and even justice can feel unevenly distributed. Silence only allows resentment to fester.
2. Economic Justice and Inclusive Development
Tribal tensions often mirror economic tensions. If some regions feel left behind while others prosper, the seeds of division take root. Development policies must be deliberately inclusive, ensuring every Namibian — regardless of surname or place of origin — has equal access to education, employment, and enterprise.
3. De-tribalizing Politics and Appointments
Ethnic identity must not be the invisible hand behind political appointments or state tenders. A credible merit-based system, transparent and accountable, is the antidote to the perception that “only one tribe is eating.” Where tribe becomes the currency of power, national unity becomes collateral damage.
4. Responsible Media and Leadership
Media — both traditional and social — must resist becoming echo chambers for tribal narratives. Equally, leaders must lead. Political figures, traditional leaders, influencers — they must unequivocally condemn tribalism, not exploit it. A leader who panders to tribal loyalty for support is not a patriot; they are a saboteur of the Republic.
5. National Symbols and Narratives that Unite
Our schools, holidays, national heroes, and cultural spaces must reflect the full spectrum of Namibian identity. A child in Linyanti should feel just as seen and celebrated as one in Ongwediva or Keetmanshoop. Unity is not built on rhetoric; it is built on recognition.
Tribalism is not just a threat to our social cohesion — it is a ticking time bomb under our democracy. We are still a young nation. The wounds of our past are fresh, and the promise of our future remains fragile. But that future — the Namibia we want — will only be possible if we stop retreating into the comfort of our tribes and start building a national identity anchored in justice, equality, and shared prosperity.
We must choose now — tribalism or nationhood.
Because we cannot be both.
