‘Mutu Mukuru mavatere’ is an Otjiherero expression commonly thrown around by those with optimism that better days lie ahead.
It loosely translates to ‘Maybe God will help [better the situation]’.
This expression echoes even louder as the government has called on Namibians to use the upcoming National Day of Prayer to seek divine intervention against gruesome killings, gender-based violence and road accidents, saying the country needs a change in behaviour to save lives.
She said the day would be held under the theme ‘Seeking Divine Intervention, Towards Behavioural Transformation to Save Lives’.
“12 September 2026 has been set aside by the Cabinet of the Republic of Namibia as a day for us as a nation to humble our hearts, pray and seek divine intervention for behavioural change against gruesome killings, gender-based violence and road accidents in our country,” Witbooi said.
The Vice President said the government was concerned about the increasing levels of killings, gender-based violence and road accidents, which she said required behavioural transformation.
“We are concerned about the increasing levels of gruesome killings across our country, the increasing cases of gender-based violence and road accidents.
Therefore, this calls for behavioural transformation in order to minimise and eliminate these social ills,” she said.
Witbooi said the government believes that prayer, combined with efforts to change behaviour, could contribute to healing the nation.
“It is our firm belief that our efforts with divine intervention can heal our nation,” she said.
The National Day of Prayer will take place from 10h00 to 12h00, with the main event scheduled for Independence Arena in Katutura, Windhoek.
However, the prayer day is expected to extend beyond the capital, with the government calling on communities across all 14 regions to organise their own prayer sessions.
Witbooi called on families, communities, traditional leaders and local authority leaders to join hands with religious leaders in their respective areas.
“I, therefore, kindly request the religious leaders, bishops, pastors and church elders in all our 14 regions to facilitate the prayer sessions in your local congregations and communities in your areas to ensure that no one is left behind as the nation prays on 12 September 2026,” she said.
Witbooi also called on alcohol outlets and gambling houses to take a break on the day and join the rest of the country in prayer.
She encouraged Namibians to participate regardless of their religious convictions, saying the prayer day should be a time for the nation to unite and seek wisdom and healing.
The government’s call comes as Namibia continues to grapple with violent killings, gender-based violence and road crashes, issues the vice president identified as requiring a change in individual and collective behaviour.
The post ‘Mutu Mukuru mavatere’…National Prayer Day targets behaviour change appeared first on New Era.
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