Namibia celebrates Constitution Day

Namibia: Constitution - A Sacred Covenant
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
February 9 is Constitution Day, which will be celebrated tomorrow. New Era looks at how the supreme law has been embraced - or not - by the people and public institutions of the country. "We have never read the Namibian Constitution," said two young adults when approached on the street. A middle-aged man did not know what a constitution is, let alone that the country has a constitution. The responses from a number of ordinary citizens on the constitution were mixed - from being positive about the changes that have taken place since independence with the Constitution acting as the supreme law, pegging out the rights and responsibilities of the citizenry, to disenchantment. "The Constitution gives us the right to speak our minds," said one gentleman, who preferred not to give his name ... "The Constitution is often not implemented to the fullest," said car guard, Fritz Jahs. "There is too much poverty, unemployment, nepotism and corruption in the country. You have those who benefit from the Constitution, and others not." A woman, also preferring anonymity, said: "The Constitution is upheld by the Government to some extent. Not all benefit equally." ... Chris Mouton said: "It is a good Constitution, but whether it is correctly implemented, is another story ... These worrying comments belie the fact that the Namibian Constitution is considered as a "shining example" and one of the most progressive in the world ... What such comments imply is that there has not yet been a transfer from 'constitutionalising' a new Namibia 18 years ago and making it so ...