We Don’t Need X-Rays To Identify Our Problems

THE rise in crime has prompted the Minister of Fisheries, Abraham Iyambo, to call for society to be “X-rayed so that we can take a good look at society”.

I would suggest that the underlying reasons are not that well hidden at all. Much of what is wrong with our society is visible to the naked eye.Let’s start with the shebeen issue that is occupying the attention of the Government at the moment.These informal drinking holes are often the seedbeds of crime for young impressionable youths who are unemployed and ready to be recruited into the mainstream of lawlessness.The argument that shebeens are job creators is not an honest one.Shebeens are also places where violence often erupts.Reflect upon what has been reported in the media about the situation in Mariental with its reasonably small concentration of people.Katutura is a much bigger settlement, and undesirables find it easy to melt into the myriad shacks and other informal structures to evade the law.But let’s not single out Katutura! Drug dealing takes place in some of Windhoek’s more upmarket areas, so the crimes that we know about are not peculiar to certain sectors of society.We have drugs being smuggled from South America through our international airport by foreigners using the country as a springboard for crime, and with dire consequences.What about the taxis and their lawlessness? Why are they allowed to do as they please without the authorities taking action? Why are the traffic ordinances applicable to some and not to others? Why do traffic personnel in vehicles not ticket taxis for stopping in intersections and other such places? Is it because there is no work ethic in place that should spur officialdom on to performing? Are there vested interests being protected? How many people in authority have relatives in the taxi industry, or own shebeens outright, or have families connected with these outlets? So let’s address what we all know.Let’s tackle the problems that we are all familiar with.Indeed, why not!! We don’t have to X-ray society to find the root causes of our problems.It would be simplistic to argue that shebeens and taxis are the only causes of rising crime, but these, at least we know about, and can act and respond to.Other areas include the huge percentage of unemployed people, the rampant corruption, which leads to unemployment, and the lack of foreign investment because all of the above is sufficient to scare away interested investors.And there is no point trying to sweep these issues under the carpet.South Africa did so and we see the results on our television screens daily! Jobs for comrades, and incompetents who occupy decision-making positions at the highest level are not what the country needs.We need people who deliver and are fairly compensated for their successes, irrespective of who they are.Competent people are not only to be found amongst the party faithful! Our business and economics graduates have read what the sector feels about their suitability.Need we say more? The moment criticism is levelled, one is accused of negativism or labelled.The words “colonisers” and “colonialism” are still being bandied about 16 years after Independence, at the highest level.Is it any wonder that the current generation finds itself in a time warp? How do we move on, make progress and solve the problems of society when irrational, unwise, undemocratic statements continue to bedevil the course of reconciliation, which the same speakers claim to be worthwhile and worth pursuing? Let’s call a spade a spade, and acknowledge what we know to be true and factual.We have a President who is trying to guide Namibia to a better future; it is time we all gave him all the support he needs! People at all levels of society must exercise their democratic rights and speak up.Let’s move the X-ray machine to the hospitals, where such equipment is of much more value.John Sampson WindhoekMuch of what is wrong with our society is visible to the naked eye.Let’s start with the shebeen issue that is occupying the attention of the Government at the moment.These informal drinking holes are often the seedbeds of crime for young impressionable youths who are unemployed and ready to be recruited into the mainstream of lawlessness.The argument that shebeens are job creators is not an honest one.Shebeens are also places where violence often erupts.Reflect upon what has been reported in the media about the situation in Mariental with its reasonably small concentration of people.Katutura is a much bigger settlement, and undesirables find it easy to melt into the myriad shacks and other informal structures to evade the law.But let’s not single out Katutura! Drug dealing takes place in some of Windhoek’s more upmarket areas, so the crimes that we know about are not peculiar to certain sectors of society.We have drugs being smuggled from South America through our international airport by foreigners using the country as a springboard for crime, and with dire consequences.What about the taxis and their lawlessness? Why are they allowed to do as they please without the authorities taking action? Why are the traffic ordinances applicable to some and not to others? Why do traffic personnel in vehicles not ticket taxis for stopping in intersections and other such places? Is it because there is no work ethic in place that should spur officialdom on to performing? Are there vested interests being protected? How many people in authority have relatives in the taxi industry, or own shebeens outright, or have families connected with these outlets? So let’s address what we all know.Let’s tackle the problems that we are all familiar with.Indeed, why not!! We don’t have to X-ray society to find the root causes of our problems.It would be simplistic to argue that shebeens and taxis are the only causes of rising crime, but these, at least we know about, and can act and respond to.Other areas include the huge percentage of unemployed people, the rampant corruption, which leads to unemployment, and the lack of foreign investment because all of the above is sufficient to scare away interested investors.And there is no point trying to sweep these issues under the carpet.South Africa did so and we see the results on our television screens daily! Jobs for comrades, and incompetents who occupy decision-making positions at the highest level are not what the country needs.We need people who deliver and are fairly compensated for their successes, irrespective of who they are.Competent people are not only to be found amongst the party faithful! Our business and economics graduates have read what the sector feels about their suitability.Need we say more? The moment criticism is levelled, one is accused of negativism or labelled.The words “colonisers” and “colonialism” are still being bandied about 16 years after Independence, at the highest level.Is it any wonder that the current generation finds itself in a time warp? How do we move on, make progress and solve the problems of society when irrational, unwise, undemocratic statements continue to bedevil the course of reconciliation, which the same speakers claim to be worthwhile and worth pursuing? Let’s call a spade a spade, and acknowledge what we know to be true and factual.We have a President who is trying to guide Namibia to a better future; it is time we all gave him all the support he needs! People at all levels of society must exercise their democratic rights and speak up.Let’s move the X-ray machine to the hospitals, where such equipment is of much more value.John Sampson Windhoek