A loota continua

SOME years back when I went for a job interview at the United Nations headquarters in New York, I was asked how I would explain to young children what the world organisation was all about.

Caught totally off guard, I tried all possible ways but failed dismally to satisfy the panel’s expectations, which explains of course why I didn’t get the job. It later came to mind that the UN could be explained in most simple terms, like a household where there are parents and children. When the children quarrel, the parents listen to both sides and try to defuse the argument so that it doesn’t turn into a something ugly like a physical fight. They also try to remain impartial to satisfy both parties if at all possible. With the rampant looting of public funds that has reached an all-time high in Namibia, one would expect that any patriotic Namibian who has his or her country’s interest and future at heart would be worried, disgusted and even very angry at the way a few selfish individuals are milking our country’s resources. But no, there are people who are convinced that those who are becoming overnight tycoons, while they plead public service, are actually entitled to those millions they are siphoning off through illicit means. I have even heard someone say, ‘Yeah, when the Boere used to steal our money left, right and centre, you were all quiet. Now that we are taking (probably meant to be stealing) our own money, all of a sudden, we are being made to look like the bad guys.’ Others argue that all that sweat and blood of exile wasn’t in vain. Yes, I agree, the struggle wasn’t for nothing but is the plunder and abuse of what you so rightfully fought for the answer? Still others talk about ‘getting paid’ almost admiringly when they refer to politically connected individuals who derive wealth from their connections.I used to wonder how anyone could make sense of such an argument, but I later realised that a lot of those people who defended corruption back in the day were actually just waiting to jump on the gravy train as soon as the opportunity presented itself. Some even discouraged those of us who are questioning the abuse. ‘Think about your kids. If you can’t beat the system, join it,’ are some of the feeble excuses put forward. That’s an argument I will always reject because if we all become thieves, what would then become of our motherland? I am sure that everybody will agree that corruption is probably the biggest challenge we are facing, apart from HIV-AIDS and unemployment, yet some people pretend to be ignorant about the demise we are heading into. Many of us are aware that at the rate we are going, we should expect to become yet another failed story on the so-called dark continent. Perhaps I should explain my frustration in the same way that I would explain to a young child why corruption and the looting of public money are bad. Just like the UN, our government is also like a household where there are parents and children. If the mother and father steal money from their own pockets, what kind of a house will it be? Will the kids not starve in the end? This is the reason I am annoyed by those who are stealing our money because every morning when I wake up to go to work, I am aware of the things I want to provide for my child, but I also think about the future of my beautiful country. I pay tax because my contribution helps to build more schools, clinics, keep the hospitals running, allow the police and army to perform their duties. I pay tax so that my government can maintain and develop our roads and telecommunication infrastructure and provide other services to those less fortunate than I am. I am happy to pay for municipal services so that the city can provide clean running water and electricity, so that our streets are maintained and the place is kept as clean as it is.So, why is it that the ones who are annoyed with the way our tax money is being used are in the minority? Why aren’t there more people voicing their displeasure on all sorts of platforms? Are we wrong to question all the multimillion-dollar projects that are being awarded to Chinese nationals who have obviously no respect for our labour laws? What about bursaries being given to the already privileged elite kids? I will not condone the looting of our public resources in any way and if I annoy those who are at the helm of corruption, remember that I, as a taxpayer, am a lot more upset than you could ever imagine.Could someone please come out and tell us in, simple terms, why the looting continues unabated? But don’t treat us, the taxpayers, as if we are a bunch of kids.magreth@namibian.com.na