Frederick Philander
25 July 2007
Windhoek — It would be now more challenging to manage Twyfelfontein properly as an official World Heritage Site since its declaration as such by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO.
This subtle warning came on Monday evening from the Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, John Mutorwa, when he addressed the Namibian committee responsible for having Twyfelfontein declared a World Heritage Site.
The World Heritage Committee late last month inscribed Twyfelfontein in the Kunene Region as one of five "cultural landscapes in the world" at a meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand.
"The Namibia National Heritage Council has worked hard since 2002 to have Twyfelfontein inscribed. My ministry and the entire Namibia are proud of them and this accomplishment. It was indeed a long, arduous and challenging road to succeed in having the site declared. Now the hard work lies ahead," Mutorwa told the committee members at a special celebration in honour of the achievement.
This declaration by the world body can have a profound effect and impact on tourism for the country.
"You have encountered numerous pitfalls in the process to put Twyfelfontein on the international map. Do not rest on your laurels because the road ahead is unknown. Things will become more challenging to remain there on this level. It's really not going to be easy," the minister stressed.
In his opinion, Namibia will be looked upon more critically by world cultural experts in the way the site is managed.
"This confirms the fact that Twyfelfontein was not a gift nor a 'pasella' to the Namibian people. It is our national duty and responsibility to maintain and manage the site properly. If we do not, it might happen that the cultural site becomes deregistered and I am sure no Namibian would like to see this happen, because it will be too embarrassing and disappointing for us all," he said.
He pointed out that this now internationally acknowledged and recognized cultural site can benefit the whole country, as well as provide employment opportunities to the people of the Kunene Region.
"I have complete confidence that the site can be managed properly in a professional way. This challenge has just started and it needs to be tackled collectively by all involved," Mutorwa said at the end of which champagne bottles were popped open to celebrate.
At the same occasion, the chairperson of the National Heritage Council, Esther Moombolah-Goagoses, formally thanked her colleagues, the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, the World Heritage Center and the Italian government for financing her council's efforts to have Twyfelfontein declared an international cultural site.
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