I HAVE heard enough of the heated debate between the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) over whether Bible studies should be re-introduced in public schools as a subject in the curriculum.
The CCN claimed to have been shocked by the Minister of Education, David Namwandi, who reportedly said the Bible will never see the light of day in the classroom because Namibia is a “secular State”. That is the State’s stance.
I am, however not convinced by CCN’s victim play by maintaining that its members were shocked 23 years after independence. The religious body had been on good terms with Swapo during the liberation struggle, the repatriation and integration of ex-refugees who are today the most senior government officials and later Swapo as the current ruling party.
When the Bible was ‘flushed out’, I can hardly recall any protest from the Christians. Many of its top religious leaders have been rubbing shoulders, wining and dining with top politicians in government. Why wake up so late, CCN?
One of the founding members of the Constituent Assembly and former member of parliament, Kosie Pretorius, was protesting during the drafting of the Namibian Constitution that the word “secular” should not be included. However, the majority ruled. Was CCN not consulted during its drafting or has it not contributed to our Constitution’s drafting?
Since it is now water under the bridge and Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) has spoken as a transmission belt of the Swapo Party ideology, we need a compromise and an everlasting solution. It is absolutely necessary and expected that politicians stay clear of hypocrisy and tell Christians who are said to be 95 percent in this country, that they should forget the return of the Bible in public schools.
A choice has now to be made by the Namibian government and therefore: Abolish all Christian-related public holidays, such as Good Friday (April), Ascension Day (May), Christmas Day (December) and Family Day (December). That goes with the banning of all Christian or religious-related prayers or sermons at all national or public events, including parliament. Yes, that will prove a point that Namibia is really a secular state as per the MoE, SPYL and government stance. Why not if it is the right thing to do?
Alternatively, amend the Namibian Constitution and remove the word “secular” and leave therein a prayer “So help me God” in Schedule 1 (Oath/Affirmation of Judges), Schedule 2 (Oath/Affirmation of Ministers and Deputy-Ministers) and Schedule 3 (Oath/Affirmation of Members of the National Assembly and National Council) during their swearing in.
It does not help us to be beating around the bush and wasting precious time.
THE NAMIBIAN
