Kawaya Calls for Formation of Nyemba Political Party After Saying Kavango Traditional Authorities leaders’ Days Are Numbered
Kawaya Ya Kawaya, who is believed to reside in the Kaisosi area of Rundu, has called for the formation of an independent political party to represent the interests of the VaNyemba community in Namibia’s Parliament.
In a statement advocating for the establishment of the party, Kawaya argued that the community needs its own political platform to push for recognition of its language, culture, traditional authority, land rights and equal access to development opportunities.
“VaNyemba people: To Form Our own party is the only path to real representation and justice,” he said.
He argued that relying on existing political parties had failed to deliver meaningful recognition for the community, adding that an independent party would allow VaNyemba people to set their own political priorities and hold their representatives accountable.
Kawaya believes the community could secure two or three parliamentary seats through an organised political movement, with elected representatives expected to advocate for its concerns at the national level.
“We do not need to control the whole government. We need two or three committed VaNyemba MPs who answer only to us, people who will stand up every day for language rights, cultural recognition, land justice, and fair development in our areas,” he said.
He also called on community members to organise themselves ahead of the next national election by establishing local structures, registering voters, identifying candidates and building a party capable of qualifying to contest the election.
“The VaNyemba will no longer be spectators in Namibian politics. We will be players with our own mandate,” Kawaya said.
Kawaya has also been campaigning for the recognition of the Nyemba language on the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation’s (NBC) national radio service.
His campaign centres on concerns that the language and culture of the VaNyemba community are not receiving sufficient recognition in national broadcasting and public affairs.
He maintains that representation in Parliament through a party dedicated to the community could provide a stronger platform for raising these concerns and seeking changes.
However, some of Kawaya’s social media posts have taken a confrontational tone towards traditional authorities in the Kavango East and Kavango West regions over the dispute surrounding recognition of the Nyemba language on NBC’s national radio service.
In a Facebook post published in the KAVANGO EAST group, Kawaya addressed leaders he accused of opposing the Nyemba community and its demands. The post accompany with two late Kavango leaders pictures.
“Tell those useless leaders of Kavango who were against the Vanyemba people that Mr. Commander-in-Chief Mr. Kawaya Ya Kawaya is still alive,” the post reads.
He further wrote: “Their times are numbered. Where are the two friends who were threatening the VaNyembas Committee? God has called them.”
The post also included the statement: “Don’t play with African Gods. But Kawaya is still alive. Prepare for your ancestors’ journey. I can see some bad things are coming soon.”
He concluded by warning against further threats to the community, writing: “Tell your generation not to threaten the VaNyemba anymore; we are more powerful people.”
The Updated World could not independently establish from the material available whether a political party will be register or whether the people referred to in the social media post have responded to the threat.
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