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06:44Last update on: 13 Aug 2013
The Namibian
Tue 13 Aug 2013
SMS Of The Day * MINISTRY of Gender and Child Welfare, TEARS are rolling down as I write this SMS. The killing of women in Namibia is now like reciting a poem. Are we really getting the protection we deserve while women not being treated as part of this c Food For Thought * SO the Zimbabwe elections were free and peaceful and not free and fair? Bouquets And Brickbats * NURSES at Katutura Hospital must stop wearing those big plastic sandals at work because they are not the official working shoes. We want to see you looking smart and beautiful with your full uniform. SMS Of The Day * THIS nation is in dire need of a massive conference on housing. When we experienced a crisis in the education sector a crisis-control brain-storming conference was organised which resulted in the best deal ever for the Namibian child, nam Food For Thought * BOURGEOISIE has become a daily occupation if not the order of the day of the upper-echelons, President Hifikepunye Pohamba we urge you to revisit this unpatriotic geocentricism among your staff and the well-connected, for everybody to r Bouquets And Brickbats * COMMISSIONER of Prisons, can you please explain the strategies you use to appoint officers to certain positions? It is my observation that you are being fed with wrong information then you just promote individuals without making p SMS Of The Day * I THINK Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda lost his belt because of this promoter and trainer. How can a world champion still be training at the Katutura Youth Complex where there is not enough equipment. I think they must follow the example of Ha Food For Thought * NAMIBIA Dairies are unable to match low prices of imported milk and this ultimately means the consumer will have to pay more for local milk. Look at the prices of the local chicken. All these profits are going in the pockets of a few in Bouquets And Brickbats * I AM pleased to hear that Cabinet has responded positively to the proposal of Namibia Dairies to support the industry. The restrictions which support the industry by reducing competition to ensure the survival of the industry is a SMS Of The Day * CEO’s golden handshakes. Somewhere on our statute books there must be a provision that if a board of directors suspends/dismisses a CEO without due regard to legal provision (substantive/procedural law) such board must carry the costs for Food For Thought * JACKY Asheeke was so right with her last column- why are the fathers of the dead children not being prosecuted? (Reference to the children who died in shack fires last week) Our justice system still protects men over women. In this cont Bouquets And Brickbats * ALEXACTUS Kaure, your column in Friday’s newspaper opened my eyes. One hardly finds impartial case study analysers in Namibia. Let’s not destroy the Polytechnic’s strong foundation (Tjivikua) as yet. At least wait until the transf
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| 2013-08-02
‘Ninja’ Microfinance Can Dent Poverty
AS I write this article, I am in Kenya analysing the Kenyan microfinance for youth development. I make no reference to the discovery that drinking water from the tap in Kenya is done at own peril. I have also not decided which is the most delicious between Kenya’s ‘Nyamachoma’ and Namibia’s ‘Kapana’. Kenya cutting ministries from 44 to 18 is also not discussed herein for there shall be another time for that.
Several years after independence, the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) was established to enable the exploited, repressed and downtrodden masses of the Namibian people to gain access to credit facilities unavailable at profit banks owned by the minority. Some argue that the dominant view during debates towards the establishment of DBN was that it should be a bank without requirements and similar tendencies found at minority-owned profit banks. Years later, the dominant view amongst the poor is that the DBN has reneged on its original mission. Some speculate that profit banks have credit facilities similar to or better than DBN. The DBN is yet to prove otherwise.
The perpetual thirst for a vehicle to deliver real economic emancipation, the observation and charge that the DBN has reneged on its earlier promises arguably fuelled the discussion on the establishment of the Small and Medium Enterprise Bank (SME Bank) by the Ministry of Trade and Industry with private investors. Government bought in and the SME Bank was established.
With the SME Bank, the jubilant downtrodden was thanking their ancestors for delivering and improving their lot in life given that rewards are often said to be promised only in heaven. Those placed in charge to actualise this public aspiration had ideas of their own. They auctioned the idea to Zimbabwe and got a ‘partner’ to own shares in the SME Bank. The SME Bank started its operation and young people are saying it is no different from profit-driven banks. Like the DBN, the SME Bank (which started operations late last year) has seemingly already reneged on its original mission – the problem of the poor remains, no access to credit facilities.
As it has been said before, the youth are the hardest hit. Youth are the Ninjas (No Income, No Job and Assets). Understandably so, Ninjas are dangerous. What do they have anyway? All they have and can do within their reach, is to direct their anger towards those they think are responsible for their misfortune. We should all sympathise, emphathise with their plight, understand and respond to their situation.
Kenya is faring quite well in responding to the crisis of the Ninjas. The reason is that Kenyan Ninjas have flexed their muscles decisively and successfully. In fact, current Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, during the recently held election, was forced to promise the Ninjas that should they vote for him overwhelmingly, preventing a run-off, he would channel the run-off money to them. The Ninjas delivered the vote and got their millions.
In 2007, Kenya established the Kenya Youth Enterprise Development Fund (KYEDF). Over the years, the revolving fund of the KYEDF grew to more than N$300 million. I was briefed that in 2013 alone, the KYEDF received about N$600 million. The majority of women in both Kenya and Namibia are youth. The Kenyans also established the Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) whose revolving fund is about N$200 million.
Given DBN and SME Bank betrayal, Ninjas’ severe poverty and the lack of credit facilities; microfinance in general and Ninja microfinance in particular, is the only hope for the youth. Microfinance institutions such as the Namibia Youth Credit Scheme (NYCS) must, therefore, be supported and institutionalised.
The Ninjas in Namibia are angry and hungry; I see and talk to them every day. The shrewd amongst the stewardship should swiftly change policy before the Ninjas run amok. Those who think I am exaggerating must note the words of Nelson Mandela that “it always seems impossible until it is done”. It is either we prioritise the Ninja benefiting policies or risk the Ninjas making the impossible possible. Part of the solution is to implement Ninja microfinance institutions. Let’s do it!
*Job Shipululo Amupanda is an African youth from Omaalala village in northern Namibia. Follow him Twitter @Shipululo
Several years after independence, the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) was established to enable the exploited, repressed and downtrodden masses of the Namibian people to gain access to credit facilities unavailable at profit banks owned by the minority. Some argue that the dominant view during debates towards the establishment of DBN was that it should be a bank without requirements and similar tendencies found at minority-owned profit banks. Years later, the dominant view amongst the poor is that the DBN has reneged on its original mission. Some speculate that profit banks have credit facilities similar to or better than DBN. The DBN is yet to prove otherwise.
The perpetual thirst for a vehicle to deliver real economic emancipation, the observation and charge that the DBN has reneged on its earlier promises arguably fuelled the discussion on the establishment of the Small and Medium Enterprise Bank (SME Bank) by the Ministry of Trade and Industry with private investors. Government bought in and the SME Bank was established.
With the SME Bank, the jubilant downtrodden was thanking their ancestors for delivering and improving their lot in life given that rewards are often said to be promised only in heaven. Those placed in charge to actualise this public aspiration had ideas of their own. They auctioned the idea to Zimbabwe and got a ‘partner’ to own shares in the SME Bank. The SME Bank started its operation and young people are saying it is no different from profit-driven banks. Like the DBN, the SME Bank (which started operations late last year) has seemingly already reneged on its original mission – the problem of the poor remains, no access to credit facilities.
As it has been said before, the youth are the hardest hit. Youth are the Ninjas (No Income, No Job and Assets). Understandably so, Ninjas are dangerous. What do they have anyway? All they have and can do within their reach, is to direct their anger towards those they think are responsible for their misfortune. We should all sympathise, emphathise with their plight, understand and respond to their situation.
Kenya is faring quite well in responding to the crisis of the Ninjas. The reason is that Kenyan Ninjas have flexed their muscles decisively and successfully. In fact, current Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, during the recently held election, was forced to promise the Ninjas that should they vote for him overwhelmingly, preventing a run-off, he would channel the run-off money to them. The Ninjas delivered the vote and got their millions.
In 2007, Kenya established the Kenya Youth Enterprise Development Fund (KYEDF). Over the years, the revolving fund of the KYEDF grew to more than N$300 million. I was briefed that in 2013 alone, the KYEDF received about N$600 million. The majority of women in both Kenya and Namibia are youth. The Kenyans also established the Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) whose revolving fund is about N$200 million.
Given DBN and SME Bank betrayal, Ninjas’ severe poverty and the lack of credit facilities; microfinance in general and Ninja microfinance in particular, is the only hope for the youth. Microfinance institutions such as the Namibia Youth Credit Scheme (NYCS) must, therefore, be supported and institutionalised.
The Ninjas in Namibia are angry and hungry; I see and talk to them every day. The shrewd amongst the stewardship should swiftly change policy before the Ninjas run amok. Those who think I am exaggerating must note the words of Nelson Mandela that “it always seems impossible until it is done”. It is either we prioritise the Ninja benefiting policies or risk the Ninjas making the impossible possible. Part of the solution is to implement Ninja microfinance institutions. Let’s do it!
*Job Shipululo Amupanda is an African youth from Omaalala village in northern Namibia. Follow him Twitter @Shipululo
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