A real MIX up!

THE Roux vs Meatco saga apparently still continues and raise more questions than answers though it is good to see that Inge Zaamwani (Namdeb) has taken up the cudgel for freedom of thought and open expression.

When speaking at the business summit of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) on Friday (15th June) she said: “We are all polite and speak politically correct, but there are times when we have to talk straight and point out shortcomings and where matters could be improved.” (The Namibian 18/06/07) So true, and I am sure she is aware that, currently, if you express opinions out of line with your employer (some) you are likely to get suspended or fired.Not conducive to sticking your head above the parapet, so, heads up! But of more immediate interest was the reported comment of the Prime Minister that “Wealth created in Namibia is either exported to benefit shareholders outside the country or is concentrated in a few hands.”(Same article.) The first part of the statement regarding foreign investors is another discussion but reference to the wealth concentrated in a few hands was of immediate interest, as wealth equals power.Why? It made me think of the unfortunate situation at the Mix Camp informal settlement in Brakwater; a situation where the current landowner has used the power of the law, as is his right, to have the several thousand residents expelled from his land.The residents of Mix Camp are now in a precarious situation awaiting, ultimately, some form of (probably) forced removal.A clash of the social reality of an established community of the poor against the legal property rights of the rich.Their plight needs closer examination.The Mix settlement started over 25 years ago when Herr Mix, of German stock, permitted poor people to live on his land; he was obviously of a generous nature and had a strong social conscience – indeed the previous regime persecuted him for this.But, despite this, as time progressed he demarcated an eight-hectare area for the growing settlement which has become home and a place of safety to many despite an almost total lack of facilities.Mix Camp became a de facto community! It is a place to “chill out” for many of the workers on surrounding plots with its own dynamic.And as with many “informal settlements”, the Donkerhoeks, Sand Hotels, Chotos and Vergenoegs of Namibia, where most residents are unemployed and marginalised, Mix has an “informal economy” and a social structure which acts as a primary safety net for survival.And yes, it’s economy does depend on people who “let out” their houses and stay at the settlement cheaper and where they have access to affordable child care, laundry services and traditional beer, and for those who travel who wish to save some of their “travel allowances” and similar “irregular” financial strategies.And yes, there are inevitably economic and social activities of a less desirable nature.But the settlement economy is active and does attract money.This is the way the community pays for school fees and puts food on the table.The community survival dynamic is effective and most residents have no other choices apart from total destitution.They are POOR.The contra to this is that the settlement may well be a focus for elements who contribute to crime in the locality and certainly hygiene and environmental factors are of considerable concern both to Windhoek authorities and local land-owning residents.The presence of the settlement also impacts seriously upon land prices, especially as this area is zoned for sub-division, and the owners will profit significantly if the settlement goes! I suspect the latter is of great significance! Money talks.As things stand, although the court ruling allows a breathing space for alternative plans to be made, Mix residents are under sentence.Moving them is not going to be a pleasant experience.Those with money have won; those without it, the most vulnerable members of society, have lost.Is there an alternative? After all the Mix site is close to the railway line, water systems, power systems and sewage disposal extensions; and is in the projected ribbon development of Windhoek towards the north.Is it not reasonable to suggest that this area is ideal for higher density developments? The community could provide a source of development labour – high skills levels are unnecessary for most such jobs.The greater area is ideal for use of the rail system for commuter travel to both North and South Industrial areas as well “downtown”, with associated environmental, cost and safety benefits.And there is already the nucleus of “community” to build upon.It has to be taken to account that a primary recommendation usually emanating from all the learned conferences on HIV-AIDS, co-dependency and abuse, gender violence and other social ills is the restoration of COMMUNITY and its protective shield.(Under some guise or other) The Mix situation, as matters stand, is going to destroy a community! It is going to remove a place where the poorer elements of society of Brakwater find kinship and safety on their own terms.Where an informal economy that “sort of works” will cease.To be replaced with what? The displaced will be relocated, financial support will be promised but be hopelessly inadequate (it always is!) and the fragmentation will result in despair and a rise of social ills of significant magnitude.Expanding Brakwater will have no “location” for the increasing number of lower-paid workers to gravitate to for leisure purposes.Destroying things is easy; growing from an inadequate base is better than not growing at all.Difficult decisions, one way or the other, lie ahead and feathers will be ruffled.Do we really believe in pro-poor policies and actions? The legal is in conflict with the social and economic.Justice in conflict with legal correctness.To quote Harry Hopkins, advisor to Franklin D.Roosevelt: “People don’t eat in the long run; they eat every day – or starve in the long run!” (regarding Depression politics in the 1930s) Chris Smith csmith@mweb.com.na(The Namibian 18/06/07) So true, and I am sure she is aware that, currently, if you express opinions out of line with your employer (some) you are likely to get suspended or fired.Not conducive to sticking your head above the parapet, so, heads up! But of more immediate interest was the reported comment of the Prime Minister that “Wealth created in Namibia is either exported to benefit shareholders outside the country or is concentrated in a few hands.”(Same article.) The first part of the statement regarding foreign investors is another discussion but reference to the wealth concentrated in a few hands was of immediate interest, as wealth equals power.Why? It made me think of the unfortunate situation at the Mix Camp informal settlement in Brakwater; a situation where the current landowner has used the power of the law, as is his right, to have the several thousand residents expelled from his land.The residents of Mix Camp are now in a precarious situation awaiting, ultimately, some form of (probably) forced removal.A clash of the social reality of an established community of the poor against the legal property rights of the rich.Their plight needs closer examination.The Mix settlement started over 25 years ago when Herr Mix, of German stock, permitted poor people to live on his land; he was obviously of a generous nature and had a strong social conscience – indeed the previous regime persecuted him for this.But, despite this, as time progressed he demarcated an eight-hectare area for the growing settlement which has become home and a place of safety to many despite an almost total lack of facilities.Mix Camp became a de facto community! It is a place to “chill out” for many of the workers on surrounding plots with its own dynamic.And as with many “informal settlements”, the Donkerhoeks, Sand Hotels, Chotos and Vergenoegs of Namibia, where most residents are unemployed and marginalised, Mix has an “informal economy” and a social structure which acts as a primary safety net for survival.And yes, it’s economy does depend on people who “l
et out” their houses and stay at the settlement cheaper and where they have access to affordable child care, laundry services and traditional beer, and for those who travel who wish to save some of their “travel allowances” and similar “irregular” financial strategies.And yes, there are inevitably economic and social activities of a less desirable nature.But the settlement economy is active and does attract money.This is the way the community pays for school fees and puts food on the table.The community survival dynamic is effective and most residents have no other choices apart from total destitution.They are POOR.The contra to this is that the settlement may well be a focus for elements who contribute to crime in the locality and certainly hygiene and environmental factors are of considerable concern both to Windhoek authorities and local land-owning residents.The presence of the settlement also impacts seriously upon land prices, especially as this area is zoned for sub-division, and the owners will profit significantly if the settlement goes! I suspect the latter is of great significance! Money talks.As things stand, although the court ruling allows a breathing space for alternative plans to be made, Mix residents are under sentence.Moving them is not going to be a pleasant experience.Those with money have won; those without it, the most vulnerable members of society, have lost.Is there an alternative? After all the Mix site is close to the railway line, water systems, power systems and sewage disposal extensions; and is in the projected ribbon development of Windhoek towards the north.Is it not reasonable to suggest that this area is ideal for higher density developments? The community could provide a source of development labour – high skills levels are unnecessary for most such jobs.The greater area is ideal for use of the rail system for commuter travel to both North and South Industrial areas as well “downtown”, with associated environmental, cost and safety benefits.And there is already the nucleus of “community” to build upon.It has to be taken to account that a primary recommendation usually emanating from all the learned conferences on HIV-AIDS, co-dependency and abuse, gender violence and other social ills is the restoration of COMMUNITY and its protective shield.(Under some guise or other) The Mix situation, as matters stand, is going to destroy a community! It is going to remove a place where the poorer elements of society of Brakwater find kinship and safety on their own terms.Where an informal economy that “sort of works” will cease.To be replaced with what? The displaced will be relocated, financial support will be promised but be hopelessly inadequate (it always is!) and the fragmentation will result in despair and a rise of social ills of significant magnitude.Expanding Brakwater will have no “location” for the increasing number of lower-paid workers to gravitate to for leisure purposes.Destroying things is easy; growing from an inadequate base is better than not growing at all.Difficult decisions, one way or the other, lie ahead and feathers will be ruffled.Do we really believe in pro-poor policies and actions? The legal is in conflict with the social and economic.Justice in conflict with legal correctness.To quote Harry Hopkins, advisor to Franklin D.Roosevelt: “People don’t eat in the long run; they eat every day – or starve in the long run!” (regarding Depression politics in the 1930s) Chris Smith csmith@mweb.com.na