WINDHOEK, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Namibia on Monday held its 32nd Independence Day celebrations at the coastal town of Swakopmund after a two-year break due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Speaking at the celebrations, featuring "A people united for prosperity" as its theme, President Hage Geingob said this year's Independence Day celebrations come with an added sense of jubilation because, for the past two years, the country has observed subdued celebrations due to COVID-19.
He said over the past 32 years, Namibia has transitioned from a poorly governed occupied territory to a stable and peaceful democracy.
"We have worked hard to ensure that our people can overcome many of the ills of the past. From the onset, the government's primary focus has been on improving the welfare of all Namibians. Over the years, we have developed processes, systems and institutions that have buttressed our Governance Architecture. We have improved and expanded access to primary education; we have expanded access to medical care, and we have expanded the supply of safe and clean drinking water to rural areas," he said.
Geingob, however, warned that certain phenomena such as gender-based violence, tribalism, corruption, crime and general moral decay are threatening developmental aspirations, peace, stability, and security. Namibia's national ambitions are threatened by the scourge of corruption, which, if allowed to gain a foothold, places the country's national security, sovereignty, and economic development under severe threat.
"Corruption is a global problem and requires a united approach if we aim to defeat it. This is why we are fashioning closer cooperation with international anti-corruption agencies to help fight corruption. Due to a robust Governance Architecture, we have ensured that corruption is not endemic in Namibia," he added. ■