Holding aloft the Namibian flag as well as banners and placards in support of the independence of the judiciary, press freedom and the rights of gays and lesbians, among others, the marchers, singing well-known liberation songs, snaked down Independence Avenue to Zoo Park for a rally. This was an apparent reference to threats reportedly made against the march over national radio by the Swapo Youth League's Paulus Kapia. This sentiment was later echoed by the Director of the Legal Assistance Centre, Clement Daniels, at the rally at Zoo Park. A representative of the Southern African Human Rights NGO Network, Pauline Dempers, called on the country's political leadership to order high ranking officials to stop instigating violence against minority rights. The independence of the judiciary, which is the realisation of democracy, is under threat.
Some languages are to be banned in schools.
All these issues are being spearheaded by Government officials and unfortunately get the blessing of the State President. Dempers also referred to reports of gross human right abuses in north-eastern Namibia. Addressing the issue of the relentless attacks on gays and lesbians, the Director of Sister Namibia, Elizabeth Khaxas, said sexuality and sexual orientation in Namibia was being used to divide the women's movement and civil society. Using sexuality or sexual orientation as a means of attacking and silencing women is not new. Khaxas added that there was a need to develop an ethic of diversity in Namibia.