Beware Bilateral Blunders

NAMIBIA has entered into so many bilateral agreements since independence, but somehow ordinary people’s lives have not changed for the better.

The country has a high unemployment rate, and many of its citizens living in rural outskirts still live under the worst inhuman conditions: no toilets; no running water, poor essential services, (i.e., transport and medical.)And when the world’s super-powers, like Medvedev of Russia or Jintao of China, come searching for investment opportunities in Namibia, Namibians must not be too much in a hurry to enter in bilateral agreements that will only disadvantage its own citizens.Think of Ramatex, Barden International, the ‘controversial’ EPZ and Pidico, they came in and disappeared – living many nationals economically frustrated and exploited.Today, there is a growing cry by Namibian men and women whose rights are highly trampled upon by the Chinese business community that is disregarding and undermining their constitutional rights – from low wages to poor working conditions.Equally, the Namibian construction industry has complained of how they are being disadvantaged regarding tenders around the country that have favoured Chinese companies; so are the retail trades feeling the pitch in trying to compete with people whose intentions are to use Namibia as a dumping ground.And somehow, such citizens are not enjoying the full backing of our leadership. Namibians are being treated as second class citizens in their own country. The ‘sour’ bilateral agreements that are benefitting foreign interests must stop, as these are injustices to the nation. Simply, Namibia is being taken for a ride!Competing against gigantic states whose intent is to monopolise the national economy, only disadvantage and demoralises the Namibian initiative.So is the US investment team that has its eyes set on the mining, game hunting, tourism and education sectors.It begs one to ask: what will be left for Namibians to do in their own country? Namibia must stop this dependency syndrome that has grown over the last decade. Imagine the donations Namibia has received: left hand drive trucks, condoms, expired medicine, and many such small gestures meant to cement trust and commitment from those foreign nationals.Look at all government ministries or parastatals and see the expatriates, advisors, consultants, peace-corps and volunteers who are taking up Namibian jobs – jobs that Namibians could have mastered after almost two decades of independence. Pay or no pay, those positions could have fed a Namibian family.Or does Namibia have Peace Corps or volunteers in America or Russia or even China? Do we have Namibian businessmen operating inside those countries – with a free hand to exploit the natural resources of those countries? No.Surely, something must be wrong with those bilateral agreements as they are more one-sided, rather than equal partnerships.Therefore, Namibia must start with the basics in managing and advancing Namibian interest first by using our tertiary institutions as thinking and innovation centers. Otherwise, in the long run, the nation will pay a heavy price for being too dependent.Mulife MuchaliCanada