A Special Division
I WRITE this with a close eye on the article ‘Exile kids are special – Shalli’ dated 25 June 2012.
Democracy is defined as “A political system ruled by the people, either directly or through elected representatives” or in short “majority rule” as it is infamously referred to.
I would like to directly employ my democratic right to raise my opinion on the remarks made by retired Lieutenant General Martin Shalli and Prime Minister Nahas Angula during the Namibian Exile Kids Association (Neka) congress. General Shalli tried to escape responsibility by making it clear that he no longer works for the government but in my opinion he is still an important figure and still has influence in his public statements.
I am concerned by the words of encouragement he gave, and his emphasis on announcing that there’s a huge difference between young Namibian men and women born in exile and those born (including me) in Namibia and we should be treated differently when it comes to opportunities/support from the government to better our lives and to contribute to economic growth of the country, simply because there is a difference in our place of birth.
Prime Minister Nahas Angula clearly stated that ‘born in Namibia youth’ are not truly heirs of Namibian independence when he said “children of the liberation struggle are the true heirs of Namibian independence”. He then urged Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL ) to establish a “special desk” and that furthermore the government must make sure that the ‘struggle kids’ own the Namibian revolution.I find the remarks made by the Prime Minister and retired Lieutenant General during the congress very dangerous and will create, if not already, division and enviousness among us the youth which can give birth to an evil that will take time to root out.
If the objective of Neka was to encourage the Namibian youth that happen to be born in exile to work hard, be creative/focused and contribute to economic growth equally as Namibians born within the borders, the feeling of alienation is prevented instead of being promoted. Let us share and take advantage of the resources we have and build Namibia under the guidance of virtue and equality.
Mr W
Via the website