-Editorial-

CALLS by a newly formed anti-secessionist group in Katima Mulilo has yet brought a new dawn of hit debates among the Caprivians.

As the group is advocating for denouncement of the name called Caprivians, as popularly pronounced by the people in the former mighty Caprivi now renamed as Zambezi Region and the world in general.

This group is barking that the residents should be called “Namibians” not Caprivians.

This approach will cost a high price and psychological torture as it has been done since the name change of the region to Zambezi during the leadership of former Namibian president Hifikepunye Pohamba in August 2013.Perhaps ,government institutions forked huge amounts in re-branding their regional offices.

There are still a million questions that need to be answered surrounding the matter of the Caprivians.

History cannot be changed but remains as things of the past that feed our brains to know where we are coming from. In fact, the new generations should not be afraid, deprived to learn and told about the name.

We understand that the name Caprivians is uniting the people together as it was called by the apartheid regime, as similarly called by other people of Namibia even today such as Kavangos, Ovambos, Hereros, Namas, Damaras and Tswanas.

But still none has proposed to change or rename the above-mentioned ethnic groups.  What is it so special not to call people Caprivians?

An attempt was made in the same vain to change the name of the town of Lüderitz still called under the Germany imperialist, and the residents stood up and protested.

Here is only Caprivians who are fighting against each other without finding constructive talks and solutions of the Caprivians.

During liberation struggle, movement political parties in the then SWA/Namibia were formed on ethnic origin, for  instance CANU (Caprivi African National Union) was founded by Caprivian Politicians, SWAPO which stands for South West Africa People’s Organisation for the people of South West Africa including SWANU(South West Africa National Union) these two parties are still active in the National Assembly the highest law making body in Namibia and they did not change their names, whilst CANU for Caprivians is not represented in parliament.

Therefore, it is pre-mature and so confusing today to start brainwashing the minds of the children of those Caprivian heroes and heroines who died in the name of Caprivi mysteriously in the last decades such as Mathews Kulibabika Chatambula who was roasted on fire by the apartheid South Africa, who is today not even honoured.

This movement  would be given credit if they are pressing issues at heart  like depletion of natural resources ( cutting down  and exportation of timber by Chinese), unconditional release of those charged for high treason, referendum ,forceful deportation of Caprivians by Botswana authority back to their motherland, and why the other remaining five (5) refugees still held in Botswana prisons under detention without any trial.

Our eyes are still open, we have seen that most die-hard political cohorts and those occupying senior positions in government have side-lined some businesses and projects bearing the name of Caprivi, as they are not awarded government contracts and tenders.

It is prudent that it is the right time now to bring this issue surrounding Caprivi to an end with amicable solutions because the other segment of our society will remain richer than others under the pretext of Caprivi name which also some has stereotyped as rebels.

In light of this let’s juxtapose to put aside differences and ignoring the current state of affairs rotting because of the opportunists who want to confuse rich minds under the banner of the name Caprivians or Namibians.

Let us not shy to be called Caprivians…

We wish you a Happy New Year 2020!