Business Boycotts And Politics

ALLOW me to express my disappointment with politicians who call for people to boycott some businesses because of political differences.

I am not targeting any individual, neither a specific party, but the issue itself. Though I am not into politics, I feel bad about the damage that politics is causing in Namibia.Even though a business is registered in a name of an individual, it is for the public. In fact the public benefit more than the owner of the business. The owner only gets money, but has to sweat and take risks to get it.The public benefit in terms of: satisfied needs, employment, development, sponsorships and tax that is paid to the government. I wonder if we are too short-sighted to realise this or are being extremely careless when we call for people to boycott shops.Even if the owner of the business does not belong to your party, his employees and their relatives may be members of your party. How will they as your members feel about you wishing suffering upon them? In fact, bankruptcy to any business is a loss to the whole country because businesses pay tax and offer employment.People do consider some factors when choosing where to buy: price, quality, customer care etc.They choose to buy where they can save and get value for their money.A caring leader should advise his/her people not to do this. While I believe politics is about trying to win at all cost, sometimes they go too far without considering the damage they are causing.Politics caused enough damage already. It destroyed friendships, neighbourhoods, business partnerships, families, interpersonal relationships at work etc. Please let us not let it destroy our already struggling economy.Fellow namibians! Let us listen to politicians, but let us use our common sense to filter the constructive from the destructive. Buy where you get value for your money.To politicians, I know that old habits die hard but, but please try to be reasonable and responsible enough when addressing the public.Let us build the land of the brave.John F NghaamwaVia e-mail