Let’s Celebrate Independence

WHETHER Namibians should celebrate the country’s 30th independence anniversary or not got caught up in semantics.

Celebrate we should. We ought to celebrate independence if only for freedom’s sake. After all, life is not a zero-sum game.

Concern about what form this year’s government-led celebrations would take and particularly how much it would cost provoked robust public debate.

Some felt the celebrations should be ignored. They described it as a waste of public money, funds they felt could be better spent on, for example, fixing Katutura Intermediate Hospital, or other projects that would benefit less advantaged Namibians.

Few would argue with that. However, we cannot discard the significance of the day.

Writing in the magazine in yesterday’s The Namibian, celebrating the country’s 30th anniversary, president Hage Geingob correctly notes: “Unquestionably, Namibia at independence and Namibia today are miles apart.”

Most statistics support the president’s assertion.

“As we celebrate this milestone in this year of introspection, it is necessary that we take stock of what we have achieved as a nation, to reflect on the challenges we face and set actions that will take us on course towards the realisation of an inclusive and prosperous Namibian House,” said Geingob.

In the decades since independence – 21 March 1990 – official celebrations have been marked with fanfare: Motorcade parades, dance, fashion displays, presidential and related political speeches, as well as food for the masses and VVIPs (very, very important people).

Oblivious of the economic gloom, the partying continued even over the past three to four years. However, the coronavirus has more than upset the cart ahead of the country’s 30th Independence Day, a perfect storm as Namibia was already experiencing abnormalcy.

The country has gone backwards or completely stagnated in key human development areas. Introspection on what is to be done is crucial and needs to be married with action.

Many experts have indicated that structural changes are needed if our country is to make meaningful and lasting improvements.

For instance, a key recommendation of president Geingob’s own High Level Panel on the Namibian Economy seems to target the elimination of political patronage that permeates our governance system.

It is patronage that results in the free allocation of national resources (such as fishing and mining rights) to a few arbitrarily selected individuals, who then strike it super rich at the expense of our broader society.

The jobs for comrades practice is another patronage factor that has damaged Namibia in many ways: Loyalty and even sycophancy is allowed to triumph over competency. As a result, public institutions are run poorly, allowing misuse and looting to flourish.

Despite some improvements in the first decade of independence, mismanagement and abuse has seen Namibia remain among the worst in income inequality. Healthcare and education systems are collapsing.

Many expert observers say Namibia can still get back onto the right tracks but it requires strong political will. Such political will should be perhaps on the scale of what we see in Angola under president João Lourenço and in some respect in Tanzania where president John Magufuli stopped spending on independence parties and diverted that money to fixing broken hospitals.

President Geingob has five more years to implement his ideas. But it is going to mean taking the bull by the horns.

This includes fighting against corruption in no half measures and implementing genuine transparency that give meaning to access to information within the government, qualities that are in short supply despite past verbal commitments.

As Namibia turns 30 years, we congratulate president Geingob on his re-election and wish him all the strength he needs to turn around the country’s fortunes.

As for our role in making Namibia a better place for all, we assure the president and the country of our continued support – without fear or favour – towards the advancement of Namibia.

Happy 30th anniversary!!!