Namibian Construction Industry For Whites?
ALLOW me to express my dissatisfaction with the Namibian construction industry and its lack of professionalism as well.
Our country is now independent for 14 years, but still this
industry is dominated by the small minority white population.
I really don't want to mention colour, but the division has been
created by the past apartheid regime and still remains the
same.
One would like to talk about Namibians and not about black or
white.
First of all, let me draw your attention to Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) to which the construction industry contributes
tremendously.
However, when this industry is negatively affected by inflation,
the GDP also declines.
Therefore the Government in particular and society in general is
duty-bound to assist the construction industry to perform
satisfactorily.
President Sam Nujoma has been very articulate in his call to
encourage aspiring young Namibians to study engineering and
science-related subjects - to become engineers, architects,
quantity surveyors, scientist, etc.
In addition the general public at large has been encouraged to
get involved in construction and civil engineering-related
activities.
The President's call has worked if you look at the number of
graduates in these fields and the increasing number of black
building contractors.
Since Independence, Namibia has produced many graduates, but we
do not know where they are.
Especially those who studied architecture and quantity surveying
You don' t see them in Government, contractors' offices or in
professional practice.
Where are they? Let us not play hide and seek and come out
openly and address the problem we are facing with the entire
nation.
I should applaud the Namibian Engineering Council, which is
trying its level best to reveal the imbalances caused by the former
apartheid regime.
Now the engineering graduates registered with this council as
incorporated engineers - and through development
programs/internships, are becoming professional engineers.
The number of registered incorporated engineers with this
council is a positive sign about the self-determination and
empowerment of marginalised black Namibians.
At the same time I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to
the training institutions in Namibia (Polytechnic and UNAM) and the
Namibian Government that has created careers.
Keep up the good work.
The future for the previously disadvantaged architecture and
quantity-surveying graduate is bleak unless something drastically
is done to remedy the situation at hand.
Since the minority whites dominate this profession, it is very
difficult for the disadvantaged to get professional
recognition.
If I remember correctly, we have less than 10 previously
disadvantaged qualified professionals in architecture and quantity
surveying practice.
This professional practices are 99 per cent owned by the white
minority, who are not keen to employ fellow black Namibians.
As far as professional recognition is concerned, aspiring
graduates must register with the Namibian Institute of Architecture
and the Namibian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and be employed in
professional practice under the supervision of professionals.
However, the training basically takes 2-5 years, depending on
whether the university/technikon or college you have attended is
recognised and accredited by the concerned institutions.
It is a fact that the institutes cannot influence or instruct
its members whom to employ, but it can play a meaningful role as
far as training, recognition and many other issues are
concerned.
We do not really want to work for them if that is the case, but
we only need the necessary infrastructure to be put in place for us
to also become professionals.
I would like to appeal to all concerned Namibians especially to
the Institute of Namibian Architects and Quantity Surveyors
Association to address and find solutions to the issues above
stated.
Lets us not practice favouritism, nepotism and division amongst
the Namibians and strive towards the economic emancipation of this
industry and Namibia as whole.
Toatamastu
Via e-mail
Note: Real name and address provided.
This letter has been shortened - Ed
I really don't want to mention colour, but the division has been
created by the past apartheid regime and still remains the same.One
would like to talk about Namibians and not about black or
white.First of all, let me draw your attention to Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) to which the construction industry contributes
tremendously.However, when this industry is negatively affected by
inflation, the GDP also declines.Therefore the Government in
particular and society in general is duty-bound to assist the
construction industry to perform satisfactorily.President Sam
Nujoma has been very articulate in his call to encourage aspiring
young Namibians to study engineering and science-related subjects -
to become engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, scientist,
etc.In addition the general public at large has been encouraged to
get involved in construction and civil engineering-related
activities.The President's call has worked if you look at the
number of graduates in these fields and the increasing number of
black building contractors.Since Independence, Namibia has produced
many graduates, but we do not know where they are.Especially those
who studied architecture and quantity surveying You don' t see them
in Government, contractors' offices or in professional
practice.Where are they? Let us not play hide and seek and come out
openly and address the problem we are facing with the entire
nation.I should applaud the Namibian Engineering Council, which is
trying its level best to reveal the imbalances caused by the former
apartheid regime.Now the engineering graduates registered with this
council as incorporated engineers - and through development
programs/internships, are becoming professional engineers.The
number of registered incorporated engineers with this council is a
positive sign about the self-determination and empowerment of
marginalised black Namibians.At the same time I would like to
extend my sincere gratitude to the training institutions in Namibia
(Polytechnic and UNAM) and the Namibian Government that has created
careers.Keep up the good work.The future for the previously
disadvantaged architecture and quantity-surveying graduate is bleak
unless something drastically is done to remedy the situation at
hand.Since the minority whites dominate this profession, it is very
difficult for the disadvantaged to get professional recognition.If
I remember correctly, we have less than 10 previously disadvantaged
qualified professionals in architecture and quantity surveying
practice.This professional practices are 99 per cent owned by the
white minority, who are not keen to employ fellow black
Namibians.As far as professional recognition is concerned, aspiring
graduates must register with the Namibian Institute of Architecture
and the Namibian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and be employed in
professional practice under the supervision of
professionals.However, the training basically takes 2-5 years,
depending on whether the university/technikon or college you have
attended is recognised and accredited by the concerned
institutions.It is a fact that the institutes cannot influence or
instruct its members whom to employ, but it can play a meaningful
role as far as training, recognition and many other issues are
concerned.We do not really want to work for them if that is the
case, but we only need the necessary infrastructure to be put in
place for us to also become professionals.I would like to appeal to
all concerned Namibians especially to the Institute of Namibian
Architects and Quantity Surveyors Association to address and find
solutions to the issues above stated.Lets us not practice
favouritism, nepotism and division amongst the Namibians and strive
towards the economic emancipation of this industry and Namibia as
whole.Toatamastu
Via e-mailNote: Real name and address provided.This letter has been
shortened - Ed