Anglican Church reacts to ban on National Anthem

From Namibia-

Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Namibia, Nathaniel Ndaxuma Nakwatumbah has denied reports that the church has banned the singing of the national anthem during religious services.

Nakwatumbah clarified the church‘s position in a media statement availed to Nampa last Thursday. The statement was a response to the dissatisfaction expressed by President Hifikepunye Pohamba in July that the church did not accord people attending the tombstone unveiling of Lukas Haleinge Nepela the opportunity to sing the national anthem. Pohamba expressed his concern about the matter at the opening of the second phase of the Northern Railway Line Extension Project at Oshikango in the Ohangwena Region on July 05.

The Head of State officiated at the tombstone unveiling, which took place on June 30 this year, because Nepela, a member of the Anglican Church, had participated in the liberation struggle. The Head of State last month noted that he has seen soldiers in uniform attending church services in England, where the roots of the Anglican Church in Namibia lie, and as such he demanded to know why the Namibian national anthem cannot be sung in the Anglican Church here. At the time, local media reports had it that the retired Anglican Bishop Shihala Hamupembe, who was also present at the tombstone unveiling, said the church is not against singing the national anthem in the church or raising the national flag, but is against political songs and political flags. Nakwatumbah in Thursday’s statement explained that the national anthem was not sung because of an omission in the drafting of the tombstone unveiling programme, which was a result of a misunderstanding between those who were in charge of organising the event.

More here-

http://www.newera.com.na/articles/47395/Anglican-Church-reacts-to-ban-on-National-Anthem