Windhoek: Vice President Lucia Witbooi has called on the nation to preserve knowledge, tradition and culture, not only for themselves, but also for future generations. Speaking at the Batshara Annual Cultural Festival at Sangwali - the headquarters of the Mayeyi people on Sunday, the VP said tradition and culture help develop and mould attitudes and character, enabling people to be productive, useful, and live progressive lives.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Witbooi emphasized that celebratory platforms of this magnitude offer young people an opportunity to learn best practices from their elders, such as respecting themselves, their peers, and elders, while remaining productive, hardworking, and supportive of fellow citizens. She stressed that Namibians ought to embrace diverse cultures, traditions and customs to understand each other better and unite as one society.

Doing so, she noted, will help the nation overcome political, social and economic challenges. 'Let us hold hands through culture to solve our problems together and move in one direction as a united people belonging to one country, one future, and one destiny,' she said.

Witbooi expressed her desire to see traditional leaders in the region visit one another, as this promotes peace, unity, and nation-building. Given the region's great potential as a food basket, she was pleased to see traditional authorities taking the lead in economic development activities that benefit the community.

In her discussions with His Royal Highness, the Shikati of the Mayeyi people, Boniface Lutibezi Shufu, Witbooi highlighted the need for developmental initiatives such as green scheme projects, tourism and rice production. These ventures are seen as instrumental in creating jobs, eliminating poverty, and generating additional revenue for the state. She called upon local authorities, NGOs, and private partners to support the Mayeyi Traditional Authority in achieving these planned developmental initiatives.

This year's celebrations were held under the theme 'Our Rivers, Our Life, Our Heritage,' bringing scores of people to Sangwali in the Zambezi Region.