Justicia Shipena
The Office of the Ombudsman says Namibia has made little progress in tackling discrimination, tribalism and racism, despite clear recommendations made almost eight years ago.
The chief of office at the Ombudsman, Ingrid Husselmann, said public hearings held in 2017 produced a detailed report that outlined steps ministries should take to address discrimination and tribalism.
She said most of those steps remain untouched. “Unfortunately, not very many of those recommendations have been implemented,” Husselmann told the Windhoek Observer.
One of the key proposals was the development of legislation that would give people simple and informal access to remedies when facing discrimination.
Husselmann said this led to the Ombudsman drafting a layman’s version of the Combating of Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment and Hate Speech Bill.
The draft went to the then minister of justice in 2020, but “nothing came of it,” she said.
The minister of justice at that time was Yvonne Dausab.
“In almost seven or eight years since that report was filed, not a lot has changed in the landscape in Namibia,” she said.
Husselmann said the Ombudsman continues to receive many complaints of tribalism, often linked to recruitment in local authorities, the public sector, and parastatals.
She said the office investigated several cases, including a report submitted to parliament this year on allegations of tribalism and racism in the Namibia Revenue Agency’s (NamRA) recruitment process.
“Unfortunately, not much has been done,” she said.
She added that lasting change must start with education.
“We do believe that anti-bias type of education must be incorporated into the school curriculum so that children are, from a young age, sensitised in terms of anti-discrimination culture,” she said.
In 2017, former Ombudsman John Walters made similar warnings after completing the hearings.
He said it was not his duty to enforce recommendations, but he was empowered by law to take remedial action.
He said ministers who received directions were required to respond if they could not implement specific recommendations.
“I was tired of begging for a response from a clerk or a minister in the ministry,” Walters said at the time.
The findings showed that effective remedies for racism were either unavailable or unhelpful to victims.
The lack of action comes at a time when recent incidents have brought racism and tribalism back into public focus.
Earlier this month, two learners from Deutsche Höhere Privatschule and Windhoek Afrikaans Privaat Skool were ordered to complete community service after engaging in racist conduct at a private event, including wearing blackface and sharing racial slurs online.
In the same month, Miss Namibia Johanna Swartbooi also faced online hate speech and tribal remarks while taking part in the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand.
Former cabinet minister Calle Schlettwein said Namibia has not reached the inclusive society many expected at independence.
“When I was young and idealistic, I had high hopes for a liberated Namibia free of any form of racism, tribalism or any other form of exclusion,” Schlettwein said.
He said that within Swapo he once felt close to that ideal but that the country has struggled to achieve it.
“Nationally, I am afraid to say we were never close to that wanted national unity. Tribalism, racism and social exclusion of certain groups are still happening, unfortunately,” he said.
He said he still holds hope.
“I have not lost my hope though, because I am sure that Namibian people by and large share my idealism,” he said.
In October, Landless People’s Movement (LPM) lawmaker Utaara Mootu questioned a nursing post interview process at Mariental after interview questions allegedly leaked to candidates from northern Namibia, giving them an advantage over applicants from the south.
In July, concerns were raised over tribalism after the appointment of a new station commander at Tsumkwe who was not from the town.
The Ombudsman says the gaps remain the same as they were in 2017 and the calls for action are growing louder.
