What Was The Struggle For?
FIRST of all I would like to say happy 25th birthday to the Namibian!
As a young person in my 20’s born just a few years before the independence of Namibia I do not really remember much of South African apartheid years in Namibia, but learned a lot from my parents and school teachers about the struggle for freedom. We should never forget where we come from but I think it’s time to understand the past, leave it behind and look to the future. Sometimes I wonder why people keep carrying on about this and that of the struggle time, even young people of my age. We would never be able to change the past history but we can learn from it and change the way we look at the future.
They say the young are the future leaders. Now and then one hears on radio, television or read in the papers that the leaders saying the youth are lazy and just want to be in shebeens/bars and drink, and that they must to do something with their lives. To me, who grew up in township, I think the society and government has failed the youth.
In Mondesa, with a population of over 30 000 people there is not even one centre for the youth for entertainment, youth empowerment programmes or places dealing with youth problems and keeping them off the streets and out of the shebeens. If one wonders why youth are always in the shebeens one needs to understand those are the only places they have to go to. The next thing is that crime increases because they want to have money to drink at the shebeens and it breaks my heart to see how our nation is drowning in alcohol. I say nation because it’s not only the youth but also the parents or elders you will find in the shebeens and there they all act the same.
I am not trying to make excuses for the youth on the streets and in shebeens, but I feel that education and leadership should start at home. Kids normally do what they see either at home or on the street, so I think elders should take their places in the home and in society as good examples for the youth to follow. The second point is that with more than 15 000 young people dropping out every year the future does not look so bright for the youth and Namibia at large. These young people would be walking the streets hoping to find jobs and they will not find work as unemployment in the country is already 51%. Although there are new mines and companies opening up they are looking for people with skills and education which the guy on the street does not have, so for most of these jobs the mines will have to import skilled people.
Government must create the platforms to the youth for training skills, jobs, giving grants to start SME business and give the youth the input they need to build the economy of the country. Housing is one of the big problems in the country and if the Government signs up the youth on building programmes for woodwork, plumbing, bricklaying and so on, this would help them to start small businesses themselves.
Municipalities should also pave the way for making partnerships to give easier access to land for business for youth in their communities. The prices of building houses could even be lowered to make it possible for more people in the community to buy. This would decrease two big problems: unemployment and housing.
Two years ago in 2008 I was on a Youth Empowerment workshop of SADC in Windhoek. The aims were to empower youth and to network with other youth of SADC in Tourism. Youth are people between the ages of 15-35 years. About 30 youth were selected to represent Namibia and welcome youth from 11 other SADC countries and travel with them for over a week around the country. At least 85% of youth from other SADC countries were running business, managers, owning shares in companies, some with lodges, travel agents, restaurants and guesthouses. Not more than 4 out of 30 youth from Namibia owned or ran any kind of business, most were students, some from youth groups like Aids Awareness Clubs and some unemployed. What is the problem with Namibia? The youth in Namibia are not given the platform and the support they need. If there are platforms which I can’t see then the information is not with the youth. Government and the leaders keep on saying youth must stay away from shebeens/bars and start to do something and we are saying give us the platform to show that we can make a positive difference in our communities. Laying blame will not change the past or help the future. Yesterday is gone but we have today and tomorrow to make a meaningful difference for a better future for everyone.
Paul T. Ndjambula
Via e-mail
Note: A good letter with some food for thought for all! - Ed