From Hero To Zero?

ALL praise must go to President Pohamba as he surely puts into practice what he preaches when it comes to the inclusion of minority groups in the political arena of Namibia.

Groups like Coloureds, Tswanas, Namas, Basters and so forth are regarded by some as minorities in Namibia and are disregarded in most of the decision-making processes and institutions in Namibia. However, President Pohamba and the Swapo Party are accommodating these smaller groups by including them in Parliament and Cabinet.Reggie Diergaardt, a ‘coloured’ Namibian from Windhoek, was appointed as a Member of Parliament by President Pohamba and now Steve Mogotsi, a Tswana-speaking Namibian from Gobabis, has been appointed as Deputy Minister of Works, Transport and Communication.In addition to these appointees, others who are already in this unequal political field need to strengthen the cause of minority groups in Namibia so as to pave the way for an equal society in Namibia.Some of these representatives of minority groups once in occupation of a position with power, forget totally their civil and moral duty towards the people they are representing, especially those in their respective regions, towns or villages.For example, how many of the former ministers, deputy ministers and Members of Parliament today command the respect of the people they were representing while they were in public office? Today most of them attend funerals and weddings in the hope of being recognised by the grassroots people, the same ones who voted them into power.Some got the shock of their lives when they were told at certain meetings that their services are not needed, as they themselves did not deem it fit to offer themselves to the people of Namibia and indeed their own people when in the offices they occupied.It is painful to be a “former” and to be reminded that you are no more “honourable” if it is by your own conduct – a person caring about the powerful and not the powerless.I am calling on all minority representatives in our legislature to assist in integrating our people in all spheres of the Namibian society.I believe that Reggie Diergaardt and Steve Mogotsi as the “new kids on the block” will take the lead in doing so.The other minority representatives are too busy with their own little agendas and will only wake up once they are out of office.They had ample time to have effected such a process but opted not to do so.I can assure you that this letter will serve as a wake-up call to them.One can never be sure how they will leave office.From zero to hero or from hero to zero? Namibian GobabisHowever, President Pohamba and the Swapo Party are accommodating these smaller groups by including them in Parliament and Cabinet.Reggie Diergaardt, a ‘coloured’ Namibian from Windhoek, was appointed as a Member of Parliament by President Pohamba and now Steve Mogotsi, a Tswana-speaking Namibian from Gobabis, has been appointed as Deputy Minister of Works, Transport and Communication.In addition to these appointees, others who are already in this unequal political field need to strengthen the cause of minority groups in Namibia so as to pave the way for an equal society in Namibia.Some of these representatives of minority groups once in occupation of a position with power, forget totally their civil and moral duty towards the people they are representing, especially those in their respective regions, towns or villages.For example, how many of the former ministers, deputy ministers and Members of Parliament today command the respect of the people they were representing while they were in public office? Today most of them attend funerals and weddings in the hope of being recognised by the grassroots people, the same ones who voted them into power.Some got the shock of their lives when they were told at certain meetings that their services are not needed, as they themselves did not deem it fit to offer themselves to the people of Namibia and indeed their own people when in the offices they occupied.It is painful to be a “former” and to be reminded that you are no more “honourable” if it is by your own conduct – a person caring about the powerful and not the powerless.I am calling on all minority representatives in our legislature to assist in integrating our people in all spheres of the Namibian society.I believe that Reggie Diergaardt and Steve Mogotsi as the “new kids on the block” will take the lead in doing so.The other minority representatives are too busy with their own little agendas and will only wake up once they are out of office.They had ample time to have effected such a process but opted not to do so.I can assure you that this letter will serve as a wake-up call to them.One can never be sure how they will leave office.From zero to hero or from hero to zero? Namibian Gobabis