A Zambian’s View

I AM a Zambian who has just returned from a month and a weeklong visit to Namibia (May and a portion of June 2006).

Namibia is a truly beautiful country, I must confess. I do not know whether most Namibians are aware of this fact.Before this visit, I had thought Namibia to be a simple, nondescript wasteland due to its desert, not knowing that the desert itself is a beautiful thing! My hosts (my daughter and son-in-law working and living at Outjo) took me to some very interesting places, notably the Etosha Pan and of course the capital city of Windhoek.It was therefore a big surprise to me to note how well developed the road network is, not to mention the efficient communications system.The tourism industry is far more developed than in Zambia, despite the fact that we have been talking about diversifying our economy from copper dependency into other areas, notably agriculture and tourism, since we gained our independence some 41 years ago with very little success! Windhoek itself was a complete surprise in its sophistication in everything.Above all, I was impressed with your public service delivery in almost all areas that I visited or I experienced.Service everywhere was politely efficient and I appreciated what I paid for.The towns were generally clean, far cleaner than our towns in Zambia where service delivery has reached an all-time low.I am not ashamed to point this out as we are sister countries aspiring to develop and we are the same, more or less.I feel we have to compare notes and learn from each other, both in terms of successes and failures, if we are to effectively forge ahead in this increasingly competitive world.This is why I felt so sad when I heard several comments on NBC’s Open Line and Chat Show programmes apparently in support of illegal shebeen operations, which was a hot issue while I was in Namibia.I do not know if this has now been settled.Whatever the position is now, my humble advice is that Namibians, including those in authority, should not decide on such issues like this one for political expediency.It has to be carefully thought through, based on social and economic considerations, before a decision is made.We have been down this road before here in Zambia when, during the Chiluba regime, street vending, including illegal bars and bottle stores, was allowed to flourish – all in the name of economically empowering the people and the less privileged.However, this went to the extent that it became a source of serious concern for all Zambians.Our second Republican President, Dr Frederick T Chiluba, even created what became known as the Vendors Desk at State House through which street vendors (basically illegal traders of all types) and the like were made to believe that they were part of the Office of the President and therefore untouchable even by the long arm of the law! The consequences were disastrous to the lives of many law-abiding citizens and to the state of our towns and cities, especially Lusaka, our capital.President Mwanawasa has been trying to bring some sanity to our national life since coming to power in 2001 but it still remains a mammoth task.Therefore while every Namibian has a right to participate meaningfully in the economic life of the nation and indeed must be given equal opportunity to do so by Government, this should be done in an orderly and legal manner.I eagerly look forward to another visit to your truly beautiful country.Pepino C Kashishi Mufulira, Zambia This letter has been shortened.- Ed.I do not know whether most Namibians are aware of this fact.Before this visit, I had thought Namibia to be a simple, nondescript wasteland due to its desert, not knowing that the desert itself is a beautiful thing! My hosts (my daughter and son-in-law working and living at Outjo) took me to some very interesting places, notably the Etosha Pan and of course the capital city of Windhoek.It was therefore a big surprise to me to note how well developed the road network is, not to mention the efficient communications system.The tourism industry is far more developed than in Zambia, despite the fact that we have been talking about diversifying our economy from copper dependency into other areas, notably agriculture and tourism, since we gained our independence some 41 years ago with very little success! Windhoek itself was a complete surprise in its sophistication in everything.Above all, I was impressed with your public service delivery in almost all areas that I visited or I experienced.Service everywhere was politely efficient and I appreciated what I paid for.The towns were generally clean, far cleaner than our towns in Zambia where service delivery has reached an all-time low.I am not ashamed to point this out as we are sister countries aspiring to develop and we are the same, more or less.I feel we have to compare notes and learn from each other, both in terms of successes and failures, if we are to effectively forge ahead in this increasingly competitive world.This is why I felt so sad when I heard several comments on NBC’s Open Line and Chat Show programmes apparently in support of illegal shebeen operations, which was a hot issue while I was in Namibia.I do not know if this has now been settled.Whatever the position is now, my humble advice is that Namibians, including those in authority, should not decide on such issues like this one for political expediency.It has to be carefully thought through, based on social and economic considerations, before a decision is made.We have been down this road before here in Zambia when, during the Chiluba regime, street vending, including illegal bars and bottle stores, was allowed to flourish – all in the name of economically empowering the people and the less privileged.However, this went to the extent that it became a source of serious concern for all Zambians.Our second Republican President, Dr Frederick T Chiluba, even created what became known as the Vendors Desk at State House through which street vendors (basically illegal traders of all types) and the like were made to believe that they were part of the Office of the President and therefore untouchable even by the long arm of the law! The consequences were disastrous to the lives of many law-abiding citizens and to the state of our towns and cities, especially Lusaka, our capital.President Mwanawasa has been trying to bring some sanity to our national life since coming to power in 2001 but it still remains a mammoth task.Therefore while every Namibian has a right to participate meaningfully in the economic life of the nation and indeed must be given equal opportunity to do so by Government, this should be done in an orderly and legal manner.I eagerly look forward to another visit to your truly beautiful country.Pepino C Kashishi Mufulira, Zambia This letter has been shortened.- Ed.