Does Namibia Have an Insatiable Desire for Public Holidays?

The Cambridge English Dictionary defines a public holiday as a day when almost everyone in a particular country does not have to go to work or school.

In Namibia, the Public Holidays Act of 1990 provides for specific days to be identified and declared public holidays.

This is the act which made it possible for government spokesperson and information and communication technology minister, Emma Theofelus, to this week declare 28 May as Genocide Remembrance Day, effective from 2025.

This will bring the tally of Namibian public holidays to 13, with four observance days, in a calendar year.

China has only seven public holidays while the United States (US) has 11 annual federal holidays. Coming back to mother Africa, South African Development Community to be specific, South Africa has 12 public holidays.

Our northern neighbour, Angola has 12 public holidays that can be increased by bridge holidays if a holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday.

Madagascar and Uganda have the highest number of public holiday observances – 19, while Eritrea, Mauritania São Tomé & Príncipe and Sudan have eight public holidays a year.

PRODUCTIVITY

Twelve public holidays and counting are too many.

It is counterproductive and likely to affect productivity in our industries, cause a backlog in education, as well as cripple other sectors of our struggling economy.

I am not against the Genocide Remembrance Day. Far from it. It is  long overdue.

My concern is that generally we take up too much productive time by having endless rest days, which in turn requires us to commemorate or celebrate through state organs, further stretching our already burdened state budget.

China and the US are among the world’s most industrious countries.

Observing the Chinese operating in our country, I have noted they do not pay tribute to Sundays and public holidays – so that they can complete their projects on schedule, fuelling productivity and the economy.

It is an example we as a nation can tap into and learn from.

Educating young minds is a work in progress and spending a day away from the classroom hinders progress.

Too many public holidays causes disruption at schools and is why many schools opt for extra school hours and days – to enhance performance and minimise failure at our schools.

POSSIBILITIES

If we are to realise Vision 2030, our countless National Development plans, our Agenda 63, Harambee Prosperity Plans, and all we envision as a nation, we need to make time to do so or they will remain mere dreams.

It is one thing to have a goal, plan and a vision; it is another to work towards achieving them through mobilising time and resources to enable such visions to thrive.

I propose that we revise the Public Holidays Act to not extend public holidays to week days when they fall on a Sunday.

We should also look at whether some commemoration and celebration days can be merged.

Public holidays don’t enhance our country economically or affect our nation’s future positively.

• * Salomo Ndeyamunye yaNdeshimona is a scholar and social activist from the Oshikoto region; all views expressed are his own and do not represent those of his employer