One namibia, one nation?

In the realm of men every revolution is born of good intentions, but in the end those in power never truly fulfil the promises that they made to their brethren who flocked to their side, to assist and delivering a victory that they might not live to see.

Namibia is such a realm. The phrase “One Namibia, One nation” was synonymous with the struggle for liberation, a struggle watered by the blood of brethren, many who never lived to see the freedom that they died to deliver. Namibia was united behind a common purpose and that I believe is the main reason Namibia is independent today, because each and every Namibian wanted it and did what they had to do. In whatever way they could they contributed. Those two last statements are bolded and highlighted for a reason. It should be noted that contrary to popular belief, Namibia's independence was not won in battle (although it contributed), Independence was negotiated. Apartheid had become illogical, even the National Party has admitted it. The contact group (USA, Britain and their allies) ensured that the land and mining rights did not change hands over night. They (contact group) knew what they were doing, free namibians democratically but still hold them captive economically.

Namibia is now independent and for the past 22 years the government has tried to deliver on the promises of “one Namibia, one nation”. But in every action they have taken they have undermined one group and promoted another, many of their actions smack of selfishness. The Veterans of the liberation struggle is one such group, who receive 2000 dollar per month in social grants and in addition were given lump sums of 50 000 dollars each. They were also given funding to start projects, most chose farming projects, thus the government has purchased tractors for them. This is an action that smacks of selfishness, some of the veterans have permanent employment in government and some hold ministerial positions but they still took the veterans benefits.

The president has come out and said himself that he opposes the introduction of a basic income grant that would give each Namibian 100 dollars a month, a trial project was conducted in Omitara with positive results, although the obvious social evils of alcohol abuse, violence and crime were still present but reduced drastically. The president opposed it saying that it would spur on a lazy culture of expecting something you did not work for. If he only knew how rich those words sound coming out of his mouth after the veterans started blowing their packages. Our president *sigh*, idiots are murdering their girlfriends in cold blood and blaming it on passion, young mothers are dumping babies, kids are committing suicide and he is busy having dinners to raise funds for his political parties upcoming congress. But let me get back to what I was saying, my point is that only those who went into exile get these benefits, why? When it’s not only them who contributed. There are many who provided support for liberation forces on the ground but never went to exile what about them?

The selfishness then trickles down to the young one’s who call themselves children of the liberation struggle. They have demanded on several occasions to be handed jobs in government on a silver platter, simply because they were born in exile. Their arrogance knows no bounds and their impatience irks me. Many of these children of the liberation struggle are no longer children and have their own children. I’m not objected to acknowledging the hardships that children born in exile experienced, but this is 2012, it does not matter where your passport says you were born, we are all Namibians. Whether born inside the country or in exile, and as such we should all be treated equally, if the government starts handing out jobs on a silver platter then all Namibians must benefit. A short message sent to a local daily the Namibian newspaper invokes what I’m trying to say “Who are they (The struggle kids) to make demands from a country they weren’t even born in?”. Retired General Martin Shali and Prime minister Nahas Angula both have said that the legacy of Namibia belongs to the struggle kids, I’m inclined to ask what were these gentlemen smoking? How can they promote the interests of a group that is a minority and ignore the challenges facing the majority of their countrymen. Maybe they should concentrate on tackling unemployment, poverty reduction and improving education than worrying about where people were born.

The reason I gave the following examples is because to me it appears as the fruits of Namibia’s liberation are not being shared. As is the case in most realms those in power have reneged on the ethos that spurred the revolution. 15% of Namibia’s population controls its wealth, so if you are a veteran, an exile kid, a comrade, a Black Economic Empowerment mogul or a child of any of the above, then you will benefit. My question is what about the rest of us? What about the kids born inside Namibia, the parents and grandparents who stayed inside the country and didn’t go into exile? What about the brave men and women who not only fed liberation soldiers but hid them from apartheid regime soldiers, men and women tortured for information but never snitched. What about them? It seems as though its Namibia for the elite 15% and god for the rest of us.

Most of Namibia’s new graduates, those lucky enough to find a job in this saturated job marker have to worry about 30% tax and paying off study loans (Unless you were some genius who got a bursary), while we are being milked by money hungry landlords who charge exorbitant rent. I have three degrees but will probably never earn enough to buy a house in my countries capital or yet even dream of ever owning a farm.

I don’t speak for myself, I speak for Mothers selling barbecued meat and fat cakes, newspaper vendors who stand on their corners in rain or freezing wind, car guards who stand in any weather to earn their 2 dollars instead of begging for it, the single mothers raising the smartest brains in Namibia who have to play both roles of mother and father and worry about inflation, underpaid policemen and women (the few who actually do their job), constantly berated and overworked teachers. Ah, how my heart bleed for the teachers. Always blamed for the declining standards of education but pushed around when it comes to better benefits, to the point where they recently went on strike. Times are hard and if leaders refuse to listen then we must speak in a language they will understand. The above (and more) are the 85% of Namibians who constitute the collective that is “the rest of us".

It’s clear the government does not take the rest of us seriously, but at the same time we should not blame them because we don’t take ourselves seriously either. I'm not advocating for Marikana type of industrial action (knowing Namibians and how much of a pussy an average Namibian can be, I know that a couple of threats from a minister would have protesters running), such actions are not the only way to wake up our fat, greedy politicians who can't fit in their Volvo's (like really, how do ya get so fat you can't fit in the safest car in the world). Not all forms of protest require violence, the most affective protests are non violent. I'm sure they would take notice if a huge occupy Windhoek movement sprang up from out of the ground. Politics is all about strength in numbers; like I said earlier, times are hard and if leaders refuse to listen then we must speak in a language they will understand only then will take us seriously, till then they will continue to use the country as their personal corner shop.