AFRICA CONNECT
My neighbour from Namibia Kudzai Mazvarirwofa
Student Selma Mulinga who recently moved to South Africa shares her experience of leaving her motherland Namibia for the very first time and her fondest memories of home
home sweet home Q: Where in Namibia are you from? A: I come from Grootfontein, it’s a small town. Q: What, in your opinion, is the best thing about Namibia? A: The country itself is amazing. It’s a tourist attraction so that is good for the economy. Q: What do you think about Namibia on an international scale? A: I mean as a developing country, she can do better, I have to say. We could use a little bit more development comparing Nam to SA, and the entertainment area needs some tweaking as well. Q: What is it like growing up in a tourist hotspot like Namibia? A: It is not really that different to any other person in any other country, it’s not like we are in contact with the tourists personally, day by day. It is just a normal childhood. Q: What is your fondest memory of Namibia? A: I grew up here, I was born here, my whole life is a fond memory of Namibia, I
haven’t been anywhere else except my recent travels to SA, but other than that, this is home, that is my fondest memory. Q: If I were to visit Namibia, where would you suggest I go first and why? A: The coast, to be specific Swakop, the place is beautiful and has all the beautiful places that one can visit. The weather up there is to die for and with regards to entertainment; I give it two thumbs up.
the transition to the mother city Q: Where are you studying in Cape Town? A: I’m at CTI College, and I just concluded my first year of varsity so its super exciting, hey. Q: How was your initial take on the culture in South Africa, in Cape Town, especially? A: South Africa is awesome! I love it. It’s beautiful and has a lot of places I have never seen before. As for the culture, I look upon it as a sort of adventure, you never know what to expect! I love the weather as
well, ‘cause it’s super hot in Nam right now, I could use one of the beaches in the Cape. Q: What is your view of the culture in Cape Town, versus the culture in Namibia? A: In terms of youth culture, it’s more or less the same around the world, you know because of globalised trends. But in terms of traditional culture, I haven’t quite witnessed it in South Africa, but I know it is quite strong. But in Namibia for instance, we have certain days where children at school would have to wear traditional gear and celebrate our culture, so we don’t forget where we are from. Q: What would you like to change in your country, now that you have seen South Africa? A: I love it just the way it is hey. I mean that is what makes it Namibia and not South Africa, after all. It is home and home will always be good just the way it is. However, I would turn down the temperatures a bit, it is HOT!
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