Leaders And Doublespeak

I WANT to air my view with regard to the Government’s sudden concern about the hate speech written on a placard by one of the demonstrators taking part in the Herero compensation demonstration.

It is strange that the Government is concerned to such an extent that they condemned it even on the National Broadcaster. I am not condoning the hate speech on the placard, I think it is outright unconstitutional.My concern is why the Government doesn’t similarly make an issue of the hate speech by Deputy Minister Theopolina Mushelenga who said that gays and lesbians are responsible for the HIV-AIDS epidemic? Is it because it was said by a so-called respected person and the other was on a poster carried by an ordinary citizen? These remarks not only endanger these people’s lives but make our work as community activists, human rights activists, AIDS educators etc, very difficult and this could cost the Government money if these people decide to sue for character defamation.Whose money will be used to pay for compensation? I call upon President Hifikepunye Pohamba to please make capacity building a project during the years of his rule as there are many sectors that would enjoy doing civic education for our not so-well-informed leaders.Nadia Ihuhua MarientalI am not condoning the hate speech on the placard, I think it is outright unconstitutional.My concern is why the Government doesn’t similarly make an issue of the hate speech by Deputy Minister Theopolina Mushelenga who said that gays and lesbians are responsible for the HIV-AIDS epidemic? Is it because it was said by a so-called respected person and the other was on a poster carried by an ordinary citizen? These remarks not only endanger these people’s lives but make our work as community activists, human rights activists, AIDS educators etc, very difficult and this could cost the Government money if these people decide to sue for character defamation.Whose money will be used to pay for compensation? I call upon President Hifikepunye Pohamba to please make capacity building a project during the years of his rule as there are many sectors that would enjoy doing civic education for our not so-well-informed leaders.Nadia Ihuhua Mariental