Indigenous groups still exploited in Nam: report

SOME minority groups in Namibia were still exploited and could not exercise their rights fully,’ the latest global report published last Thursday, has stated.

The ‘State of the World’s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2009’ details how minority and indigenous children have been systematically excluded, discriminated against, or are too poor to afford an education. In African countries such as Burundi, Rwanda and Sudan, exclusion from school and the lack of educational opportunities for young people have been critical factors in fuelling conflict over past decades.’Namibia’s indigenous groups, in particular the San, still face exploitation, while the law says that all indigenous groups should participate equally in decisions affecting their lands, cultures, traditions and allocations of natural resources,’ the report said. ‘The San and other indigenous groups have been unable to exercise these rights fully as a result of minimal access to education, limited economic opportunities and relative isolation.’ Namibia faces a presidential and parliamentary election in November 2009According to the US State 2008 Human Rights Report, the Namibian government under President Hifikepunye Pohamba, took measures to end discrimination against the San. According to a report from the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in July 2008, this included the San Development Programme, which aimed specifically to accelerate San people in education, literacy and resettlement programmes. It also included seeking their advice about proposed legislation on communal lands and increasing their access to education. Indigenous lands were effectively demarcated, but ‘poorly managed’ and the group remained excluded in many cases, last week’s report on minorities said.A major issue for minority groups in Namibia is achieving political recognition. ‘The government has the authority to withhold recognition from traditional leaders, even in opposition to local preference. For example, in February 2008, Katjamba Tjambiru, a female chief of the Ovahimba community, claimed that Government rejected her application for official recognition as a traditional authority because she did not support the ruling party.’ Government subsequently recognised her nephew Vemuii Tjambiru, a ruling Swapo party supporter.’Many children of indigenous and rural families do not attend school. Children from poorer families are also less likely to be educated, and more likely to be involved in child labour,’ the report stated.Government introduced programmes to support children to stay in school. Overall, primaryschool enrolment has risen to about 76 per cent for boys and 81 per cent for girls. The Ministryof Gender Equality and Child Welfare and the Health Ministry targeted orphans, providing grants and scholarships to keep them in school, the report praised Namibia. Additionally, Government collaborated with the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) and the Namibia Farm Workers Union (Nafwu) to eliminate child labour in the country through awareness campaigns. ‘The promotion of the cultural rights of minorities is necessary to further the fulfilment of their educational rights. These rights include access to written, audio and visual media materials in their own language in order to enrich the cultural lives of minorities. There must also be the free exchange of books and other educational materials and access to universities run by members of their national group,’ the annual report recommends.