Paternity’s ‘Hot Potato’

KINDLY allow me to air my views on the envisaged paternity leave in Namibia as per article published in The Namibian of 02/07/04-entitled “Pros and Cons to Paternity Leave”.

The biggest obstacle and stagnation to paternity leave will be man himself – for where others mighty be looking forward to the enactment – other men are mulling as to how they shall be accommodated. Because while women conceive once a year, Namibia’s playboys, casanovas, sugar daddies and polygamists make babies left, right and centre.Accommodating such a people will need improvising-as they cannot have all sides of the bread buttered.For the woman, the envisaged paternity leave must bear some hope on how finally their male partners can share the burden of responsibility.Paternity leave should not only be targeted in bonding a family, but to acknowledge that fathers have an equal role to mothers in the upbringing of children.Creation of the bond between a family must start from conception to delivery and care of the child.For check-ups, pre-natal classes – bring the man along.If education is what fathers need – give it to them.Fathers are just like mothers – falling into the category of either responsible or irresponsible.Any rational father wouldn’t abuse his paternity leave at the expense of a child.Paternity leave should not only be limited to fathers whose name appears on the birth-certificate but consideration should be given to adoptive fathers as they will equally have to share the burden of responsibility in raising the child as if it was their own.A father remains a father in separation, divorce or marriage and their responsibilities and rights cannot be taken away.The duration of paternity leave could be tricky – if each parent is accorded what women get on maternity leave.But since the object is to recognise man as an equal partner and creation of that bond after conception why not (like some western countries) let father and mother share the number of weeks normally granted to a mother.In some countries a mother and father will out of consensus decide how many weeks one will take out of the allocated leave days – normally for maternity leave.In a situation where a mother might not be working – then if a man needs can take all leave days as are accorded to a woman on maternity leave.On a question of paid or unpaid paternity leave, it must not be forgotten that fathers are equal contributors to the Social Security Service – coupled with feeding their families – its only logical to have paternity leave paid.On the economics of it, though a broader subject, cost would be minimised when father and mother share the normally accorded number of leave days.Which brings me to the advantages: Other than creation of a bond and recognising fathers as equal partners in the wellbeing and welfare of a child – employment opportunities arise.Career mothers can be up and running and back to work within a short period.Whereas the disadvantages could be: Mothers can lose out of the intended period of recuperation.Polygamists and children born outside marriage must be fairly accommodated, because fathers of such nature might never come out of paternity leave as there is always a baby coming.Paternity leave does not always provide a 100% remuneration so that people’s budget can become so tight that fathers go back to work earlier than expected.Paternity leave, though a necessity in Namibia, could prove another ‘hot potato.’Joseph Mulife Muchali Montreal, CanadaBecause while women conceive once a year, Namibia’s playboys, casanovas, sugar daddies and polygamists make babies left, right and centre.Accommodating such a people will need improvising-as they cannot have all sides of the bread buttered.For the woman, the envisaged paternity leave must bear some hope on how finally their male partners can share the burden of responsibility.Paternity leave should not only be targeted in bonding a family, but to acknowledge that fathers have an equal role to mothers in the upbringing of children.Creation of the bond between a family must start from conception to delivery and care of the child.For check-ups, pre-natal classes – bring the man along.If education is what fathers need – give it to them.Fathers are just like mothers – falling into the category of either responsible or irresponsible.Any rational father wouldn’t abuse his paternity leave at the expense of a child.Paternity leave should not only be limited to fathers whose name appears on the birth-certificate but consideration should be given to adoptive fathers as they will equally have to share the burden of responsibility in raising the child as if it was their own.A father remains a father in separation, divorce or marriage and their responsibilities and rights cannot be taken away.The duration of paternity leave could be tricky – if each parent is accorded what women get on maternity leave.But since the object is to recognise man as an equal partner and creation of that bond after conception why not (like some western countries) let father and mother share the number of weeks normally granted to a mother.In some countries a mother and father will out of consensus decide how many weeks one will take out of the allocated leave days – normally for maternity leave.In a situation where a mother might not be working – then if a man needs can take all leave days as are accorded to a woman on maternity leave.On a question of paid or unpaid paternity leave, it must not be forgotten that fathers are equal contributors to the Social Security Service – coupled with feeding their families – its only logical to have paternity leave paid.On the economics of it, though a broader subject, cost would be minimised when father and mother share the normally accorded number of leave days.Which brings me to the advantages: Other than creation of a bond and recognising fathers as equal partners in the wellbeing and welfare of a child – employment opportunities arise.Career mothers can be up and running and back to work within a short period.Whereas the disadvantages could be: Mothers can lose out of the intended period of recuperation.Polygamists and children born outside marriage must be fairly accommodated, because fathers of such nature might never come out of paternity leave as there is always a baby coming.Paternity leave does not always provide a 100% remuneration so that people’s budget can become so tight that fathers go back to work earlier than expected.Paternity leave, though a necessity in Namibia, could prove another ‘hot potato.’Joseph Mulife Muchali Montreal, Canada