Katima mulilo: Members of the United Democratic Party (UDP) staged a peaceful demonstration at Katima Mulilo on Thursday morning, calling for the return of exiled leader Mishake Muyongo and the release of the Caprivi political prisoners.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the demonstration, sanctioned by the Namibian Police Force (NamPol), saw participants marching from the Katima Mulilo open market to the Zambezi Regional Council office. There, they handed over their petition to Zambezi Governor Dorothy Kabula.
In their petition, read by UDP regional party organiser Leonard Malesu, the group expressed concern over unresolved political issues in the Caprivi Strip, advocating for self-determination and suggesting that these issues be addressed through a referendum. They argued that the "Caprivi Strip cannot lawfully be part of Namibia under international laws."
The group referenced the 1884 Berlin Conference, stating that the Caprivi Strip was not included as part of Namibia when Germany declared it as its possession. They emphasized that it is their right to urge the Government of Namibia to urgently address the matter, particularly the merger agreement between the Caprivi African National Union (CANU) and SWAPO, signed in exile under the oversight of Zambia's Founding President Kenneth Kaunda and Namibia's former President Hifikepunye Pohamba.
The petition highlighted that the 05 November 1964 merger agreement was intended to unite the political movements of SWAPO and CANU, not to incorporate the Caprivi Strip into Namibia. The group insisted that the people of Caprivi were not consulted about their inclusion in Namibia after independence.
Moreover, they argued that Muyongo's involvement in drafting the Namibian Constitution and participation in the Constituent Assembly did not legally incorporate the Caprivi Strip as part of Namibia under international law.
The group demanded the unconditional release of all Caprivi political prisoners and the return of Caprivian exiles, asserting that the Caprivi people have suffered under the Namibian Government. They urged President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to address their concerns promptly.
Governor Kabula, upon receiving the petition, assured the demonstrators that she would forward it to the relevant office.