Leaders Of The South Must Get Their Act Right

BEING a proud Nama woman from the south, who is unfortunately labelled as a coloured or a white woman because of my looks, I am saddened by the negative publicity that my people from the south seem to take pleasure in.

Not a week passes without something negative about either the Hardap Region or the Karas Region – what are our so-called leaders doing instead of just sitting and blaming one other for this and that and complaining about development going only to certain regions. Being employed in one of the regions striving for socio-economic development through joining hands and working in unity for the progress of their society, their region and the county at large, I can’t help but question the credibility of my leaders in the south, with reference to the latest Salmaan Jacobs saga.It’s about time that you wake up and join hands to rescue our region from extreme poverty and unemployment caused by mismanagement and the lack of know-how from the leaders.It is a well-known fact that university graduates from the south would rather seek employment elsewhere and use our expertise and know-how towards social development in other regions.This is merely because there is a lack of job creation, unity, vision and purpose among the leaders of the southern regions, not to mention jealousy.Have you ever asked yourself why there is such a high crime rate, alcohol and drug abuse, prostitution, poverty and young girls and boys frequenting in most cases illegal shebeens with resultant high HIV infections and deaths? Did you ever try to look at it holistically and try to find solutions instead of abusing the power and privilege provided to you from our Government whom you are blaming for the situation caused by you, the leaders? Those in leadership positions, stop abusing your power, money and privileges for your own selfish gain – reach out to your people, they placed you in the fortunate position you are in.The communities from the south, especially Mariental, Gibeon and Keetmanshoop, stop blaming the leaders and the Government, start to make a difference, don’t wait for someone to do something for you, your town or your region.Our pride, our dignity and integrity as Namas are in jeopardy, a situation caused by our own actions as the Nama people from the south… let our children not be ashamed of being a Nama or being from the south as a result of us.Please get out of the box and do away with the tunnel vision and stop hampering those who want to empower themselves and bring changes to the town or the region.Desire Pieters Erongo RegionBeing employed in one of the regions striving for socio-economic development through joining hands and working in unity for the progress of their society, their region and the county at large, I can’t help but question the credibility of my leaders in the south, with reference to the latest Salmaan Jacobs saga.It’s about time that you wake up and join hands to rescue our region from extreme poverty and unemployment caused by mismanagement and the lack of know-how from the leaders.It is a well-known fact that university graduates from the south would rather seek employment elsewhere and use our expertise and know-how towards social development in other regions.This is merely because there is a lack of job creation, unity, vision and purpose among the leaders of the southern regions, not to mention jealousy.Have you ever asked yourself why there is such a high crime rate, alcohol and drug abuse, prostitution, poverty and young girls and boys frequenting in most cases illegal shebeens with resultant high HIV infections and deaths? Did you ever try to look at it holistically and try to find solutions instead of abusing the power and privilege provided to you from our Government whom you are blaming for the situation caused by you, the leaders? Those in leadership positions, stop abusing your power, money and privileges for your own selfish gain – reach out to your people, they placed you in the fortunate position you are in.The communities from the south, especially Mariental, Gibeon and Keetmanshoop, stop blaming the leaders and the Government, start to make a difference, don’t wait for someone to do something for you, your town or your region.Our pride, our dignity and integrity as Namas are in jeopardy, a situation caused by our own actions as the Nama people from the south… let our children not be ashamed of being a Nama or being from the south as a result of us.Please get out of the box and do away with the tunnel vision and stop hampering those who want to empower themselves and bring changes to the town or the region.Desire Pieters Erongo Region