Lister’s Perspectives Are Wrong

I AM a 15-year-old Namibian who comes from a home where reading The Namibian newspaper is the norm.

For the past few years I have come to realise that you create a somewhat altered view of the state of current affairs in our country. In reference to your ‘Political Perspective’ column, I have to say that it is totally and utterly wrong.Your column has made a gradual progression in the last ten years from a political perspective to a personal perspective that is inundated with subjective commentary on current affairs.Your column has moved from ‘telling it like it is’ to telling it like it is for you.I am fully aware that as the editor of the newspaper in question it is your prerogative, but as the editor you have a social responsibility, which you do carry out in the newspaper.However, because you undertook to provide us Namibians with cutting-edge journalism, your social responsibility also includes forming a politically correct public opinion of current affairs, and not a fabricated one.In reference to your column on January 27 2006, you made mention of the fact that the Government lacks political will and is lethargic.Such derogatory comments cannot be tolerated if we are to become an established, well-planned and successful country.You made mention of the fact that President Pohamba does not seem like a sufficient leader for the people of Namibia, that he is ineffective and a ‘one-term president’.May I ask, who would seem a sufficient leader in your eyes? Yourself?You also made mention of the fact that former President Sam Nujoma had “reluctance to relinquish his power”.Now that is the statement that made me draft this letter.If Mr Nujoma had wanted to remain the president of Namibia, he would have and could have.Furthermore, he would have done so with the full support of over 70% of the Namibian population.What you always talk about in your column is hate speech, and hate speech does not build a nation.Anastacia Imbili Via e-mail Note: Criticism of my column and views is always welcome, especially when it comes from someone who started reading it at the age of five years! – EdIn reference to your ‘Political Perspective’ column, I have to say that it is totally and utterly wrong.Your column has made a gradual progression in the last ten years from a political perspective to a personal perspective that is inundated with subjective commentary on current affairs.Your column has moved from ‘telling it like it is’ to telling it like it is for you.I am fully aware that as the editor of the newspaper in question it is your prerogative, but as the editor you have a social responsibility, which you do carry out in the newspaper.However, because you undertook to provide us Namibians with cutting-edge journalism, your social responsibility also includes forming a politically correct public opinion of current affairs, and not a fabricated one.In reference to your column on January 27 2006, you made mention of the fact that the Government lacks political will and is lethargic.Such derogatory comments cannot be tolerated if we are to become an established, well-planned and successful country.You made mention of the fact that President Pohamba does not seem like a sufficient leader for the people of Namibia, that he is ineffective and a ‘one-term president’.May I ask, who would seem a sufficient leader in your eyes? Yourself?You also made mention of the fact that former President Sam Nujoma had “reluctance to relinquish his power”.Now that is the statement that made me draft this letter.If Mr Nujoma had wanted to remain the president of Namibia, he would have and could have.Furthermore, he would have done so with the full support of over 70% of the Namibian population.What you always talk about in your column is hate speech, and hate speech does not build a nation. Anastacia Imbili Via e-mail Note: Criticism of my column and views is always welcome, especially when it comes from someone who started reading it at the age of five years! – Ed