21 Jul 2019

Government views cultural diversity as good for democracy for it provides choice and equal treatment to all citizens, says Vice President Slumber Tsogwane.

Tsogwane said recently during Tjingirini Cultural Festival of the Mbanderu tribe held in Toromoja recently, that cultural diversity fostered patriotism and created a strong cultural base on which people could hold on for national identity.

He stated that culture was a critical ingredient of nation building and attainment of national cohesion.

He explained that culture represented a unique, dynamic and irreplaceable body of values, traditions and language adding that there was no society that could flourish without culture since it was a driver and enabler of inclusive growth.

He said it was also a channel to foster new forms of global solidarity and citizenship hence it was therefore important to eliminate lack of understanding of each other’s culture since ignorance normally yielded intolerance and a sense of rejection.

The human mind, he said rejected the unknown and labelled it as negative and therefore festivals such as Tjingirini, which facilitated discovery and appreciation of one an other’s culture and living together in peace and harmony.

Tsogwane said such called for shared value for diversity in moving the nation forward and also that diverse cultures united the nation with a common vision for prosperity and peace.

“The Mbanderu’s work in cultural development is therefore seen as a building block for unity and is highly commendable,” he said. He implored the Mbanderu to document their cultural activities as that could benefit future generations, researchers and tourists adding that cultures were facing extinction mainly due to lack of documentation.

Tjingirini cultural festival vice chairperson, Tips Keheji said the festival started in 1937 with the view to preserve and promote their culture. 

He stated that a person had to be identified by their culture adding that the Mbanderu used a green, white and black flag for identification of their events such as funerals and cultural events.

Kgosi Nguvauva Nguvauva II of Toromoja commended the vice president for being instrumental in uniting tribes. He described him as a unifying leader who could take the nation forward on cultural development. ENDS