Windhoek (Earth Times) - Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba was sworn in for a second five-year term Sunday - on the 20th anniversary of the south-west African country's independence from apartheid South Africa.
Pohamba took the oath of office in Independence Stadium in the capital Windhoek, nearly four months after presidential and parliamentary elections that he and his party, the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO), easily won.
The opposition had contested the poll outcome, claiming there were irregularities in the vote, but their application for a complete recount was thrown out of court in February.
South African President Jacob Zuma, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo's President Joseph Kabila and the presidents of Botswana, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia attended Sunday's independence celebrations.
Nobel Peace Prize-winning, former United Nations special envoy to Namibia Martti Ahtissari of Finland was also present.
Pohamba called on his government to ensure that all Namibians enjoyed the fruits of independence.
"We must consolidate peace and democracy for our children and children's children," he said.
He also reached out to his political opponents, which include some former senior members of SWAPO who broke away from the party and formed the opposition Rally for Democracy and Progress.
"Now we must stand together united. A community wastes valuable time if entangled in squabbles," he said.
Namibia gained independence from South Africa on 21 March 1990 after a 22-year guerrilla war between 1966 and 1988 led by SWAPO.
The former liberation movement has governed the impoverished country of 2 million people ever since, being returned to office through five straight general elections.
While the party has maintained stability, the country is battling high rates of corruption and unemployment. One in two Namibians of working age are out of a job.
Pohamba took the oath of office in Independence Stadium in the capital Windhoek, nearly four months after presidential and parliamentary elections that he and his party, the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO), easily won.
The opposition had contested the poll outcome, claiming there were irregularities in the vote, but their application for a complete recount was thrown out of court in February.
South African President Jacob Zuma, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo's President Joseph Kabila and the presidents of Botswana, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia attended Sunday's independence celebrations.
Nobel Peace Prize-winning, former United Nations special envoy to Namibia Martti Ahtissari of Finland was also present.
Pohamba called on his government to ensure that all Namibians enjoyed the fruits of independence.
"We must consolidate peace and democracy for our children and children's children," he said.
He also reached out to his political opponents, which include some former senior members of SWAPO who broke away from the party and formed the opposition Rally for Democracy and Progress.
"Now we must stand together united. A community wastes valuable time if entangled in squabbles," he said.
Namibia gained independence from South Africa on 21 March 1990 after a 22-year guerrilla war between 1966 and 1988 led by SWAPO.
The former liberation movement has governed the impoverished country of 2 million people ever since, being returned to office through five straight general elections.
While the party has maintained stability, the country is battling high rates of corruption and unemployment. One in two Namibians of working age are out of a job.
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