Geingob slams ‘tribalist’ youths
President says nation-building is hard task
The Head of State says "radical, crazy" youth do not fully comprehend the difficulty of building a nation.
MATHIAS HAUFIKU
WINDHOEK
President Hage Geingob yesterday accused young people of harbouring racist and tribalist traits, urging them to forge for unity of purpose in order to attain their generational mission.
Geingob said this while delivering the keynote address during the opening of the 17th Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) congress in Windhoek. His statement hovered around a united Namibia in which all Namibians have equal access to education and opportunities.
“Young people are racist or tribalistic, many of you today! We do not deny that you belong to tribes, but we must unite in diversity,” he quipped as he veered off his prepared speech.
Geingob urged young people to shun tribalism and rather focus on exploring and promoting ideas and policies that are innovative and sustainable.
“Individuals come and go but systems remain and it is easier to destroy and difficult to build. But when you were part of the process of building a nation and you know the difficulties faced to do it, like me, you will think twice of doing things that will destroy this country. But if you are young, radical, crazy, you would not care because you do not have the history how difficult it was to build this nation,” he said.
“You hail from diverse backgrounds, but as born frees, you can overcome that because you are all painted in the colours of Namibia,” Geingob told the delegates.
“When we are in the Namibian house, we must not see tribes, it must be one house where all of us hold hands and live harmoniously. Yes, we disagree and fight because that is normal, but we must hold hands, this is the only country we can call our home,” he said.
“Through my frequent interactions with young people, it has become increasingly apparent to me that the youth of our country do understand their generational mission and that they are united around the issues that matter to them such as land and housing, including student accommodation; education funding and employment and economic opportunities for youth, as well as mental health and welfare,” he said during his 50-minute address.
The President lauded Nanso for “not abdicating its historic position of fighting social inequalities”.
“Great accomplishments are achieved where there is unity of purpose. I therefore charge all student leaders across the country to unite around issues, find commonality on the central issues affecting students,” he said.
Geingob also assured delegates that the government will continue providing the necessary support to the student movement because “we believe that young people cannot be empowered without their involvement in all sectors of society”.
WINDHOEK
President Hage Geingob yesterday accused young people of harbouring racist and tribalist traits, urging them to forge for unity of purpose in order to attain their generational mission.
Geingob said this while delivering the keynote address during the opening of the 17th Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) congress in Windhoek. His statement hovered around a united Namibia in which all Namibians have equal access to education and opportunities.
“Young people are racist or tribalistic, many of you today! We do not deny that you belong to tribes, but we must unite in diversity,” he quipped as he veered off his prepared speech.
Geingob urged young people to shun tribalism and rather focus on exploring and promoting ideas and policies that are innovative and sustainable.
“Individuals come and go but systems remain and it is easier to destroy and difficult to build. But when you were part of the process of building a nation and you know the difficulties faced to do it, like me, you will think twice of doing things that will destroy this country. But if you are young, radical, crazy, you would not care because you do not have the history how difficult it was to build this nation,” he said.
“You hail from diverse backgrounds, but as born frees, you can overcome that because you are all painted in the colours of Namibia,” Geingob told the delegates.
“When we are in the Namibian house, we must not see tribes, it must be one house where all of us hold hands and live harmoniously. Yes, we disagree and fight because that is normal, but we must hold hands, this is the only country we can call our home,” he said.
“Through my frequent interactions with young people, it has become increasingly apparent to me that the youth of our country do understand their generational mission and that they are united around the issues that matter to them such as land and housing, including student accommodation; education funding and employment and economic opportunities for youth, as well as mental health and welfare,” he said during his 50-minute address.
The President lauded Nanso for “not abdicating its historic position of fighting social inequalities”.
“Great accomplishments are achieved where there is unity of purpose. I therefore charge all student leaders across the country to unite around issues, find commonality on the central issues affecting students,” he said.
Geingob also assured delegates that the government will continue providing the necessary support to the student movement because “we believe that young people cannot be empowered without their involvement in all sectors of society”.
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