Namibian Construction Industry For Whites?

ALLOW me to express my dissatisfaction with the Namibian construction industry and its lack of professionalism as well.

Our country is now independent for 14 years, but still this industry is dominated by the small minority white population. I really don’t want to mention colour, but the division has been created by the past apartheid regime and still remains the same.One would like to talk about Namibians and not about black or white.First of all, let me draw your attention to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to which the construction industry contributes tremendously.However, when this industry is negatively affected by inflation, the GDP also declines.Therefore the Government in particular and society in general is duty-bound to assist the construction industry to perform satisfactorily.President Sam Nujoma has been very articulate in his call to encourage aspiring young Namibians to study engineering and science-related subjects – to become engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, scientist, etc.In addition the general public at large has been encouraged to get involved in construction and civil engineering-related activities.The President’s call has worked if you look at the number of graduates in these fields and the increasing number of black building contractors.Since Independence, Namibia has produced many graduates, but we do not know where they are.Especially those who studied architecture and quantity surveying You don’ t see them in Government, contractors’ offices or in professional practice.Where are they? Let us not play hide and seek and come out openly and address the problem we are facing with the entire nation.I should applaud the Namibian Engineering Council, which is trying its level best to reveal the imbalances caused by the former apartheid regime.Now the engineering graduates registered with this council as incorporated engineers – and through development programs/internships, are becoming professional engineers.The number of registered incorporated engineers with this council is a positive sign about the self-determination and empowerment of marginalised black Namibians.At the same time I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the training institutions in Namibia (Polytechnic and UNAM) and the Namibian Government that has created careers.Keep up the good work.The future for the previously disadvantaged architecture and quantity-surveying graduate is bleak unless something drastically is done to remedy the situation at hand.Since the minority whites dominate this profession, it is very difficult for the disadvantaged to get professional recognition.If I remember correctly, we have less than 10 previously disadvantaged qualified professionals in architecture and quantity surveying practice.This professional practices are 99 per cent owned by the white minority, who are not keen to employ fellow black Namibians.As far as professional recognition is concerned, aspiring graduates must register with the Namibian Institute of Architecture and the Namibian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and be employed in professional practice under the supervision of professionals.However, the training basically takes 2-5 years, depending on whether the university/technikon or college you have attended is recognised and accredited by the concerned institutions.It is a fact that the institutes cannot influence or instruct its members whom to employ, but it can play a meaningful role as far as training, recognition and many other issues are concerned.We do not really want to work for them if that is the case, but we only need the necessary infrastructure to be put in place for us to also become professionals.I would like to appeal to all concerned Namibians especially to the Institute of Namibian Architects and Quantity Surveyors Association to address and find solutions to the issues above stated.Lets us not practice favouritism, nepotism and division amongst the Namibians and strive towards the economic emancipation of this industry and Namibia as whole.Toatamastu Via e-mailNote: Real name and address provided.This letter has been shortened – EdI really don’t want to mention colour, but the division has been created by the past apartheid regime and still remains the same.One would like to talk about Namibians and not about black or white.First of all, let me draw your attention to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to which the construction industry contributes tremendously.However, when this industry is negatively affected by inflation, the GDP also declines.Therefore the Government in particular and society in general is duty-bound to assist the construction industry to perform satisfactorily.President Sam Nujoma has been very articulate in his call to encourage aspiring young Namibians to study engineering and science-related subjects – to become engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, scientist, etc.In addition the general public at large has been encouraged to get involved in construction and civil engineering-related activities.The President’s call has worked if you look at the number of graduates in these fields and the increasing number of black building contractors.Since Independence, Namibia has produced many graduates, but we do not know where they are.Especially those who studied architecture and quantity surveying You don’ t see them in Government, contractors’ offices or in professional practice.Where are they? Let us not play hide and seek and come out openly and address the problem we are facing with the entire nation.I should applaud the Namibian Engineering Council, which is trying its level best to reveal the imbalances caused by the former apartheid regime.Now the engineering graduates registered with this council as incorporated engineers – and through development programs/internships, are becoming professional engineers.The number of registered incorporated engineers with this council is a positive sign about the self-determination and empowerment of marginalised black Namibians.At the same time I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the training institutions in Namibia (Polytechnic and UNAM) and the Namibian Government that has created careers.Keep up the good work.The future for the previously disadvantaged architecture and quantity-surveying graduate is bleak unless something drastically is done to remedy the situation at hand.Since the minority whites dominate this profession, it is very difficult for the disadvantaged to get professional recognition.If I remember correctly, we have less than 10 previously disadvantaged qualified professionals in architecture and quantity surveying practice.This professional practices are 99 per cent owned by the white minority, who are not keen to employ fellow black Namibians.As far as professional recognition is concerned, aspiring graduates must register with the Namibian Institute of Architecture and the Namibian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and be employed in professional practice under the supervision of professionals.However, the training basically takes 2-5 years, depending on whether the university/technikon or college you have attended is recognised and accredited by the concerned institutions.It is a fact that the institutes cannot influence or instruct its members whom to employ, but it can play a meaningful role as far as training, recognition and many other issues are concerned.We do not really want to work for them if that is the case, but we only need the necessary infrastructure to be put in place for us to also become professionals.I would like to appeal to all concerned Namibians especially to the Institute of Namibian Architects and Quantity Surveyors Association to address and find solutions to the issues above stated.Lets us not practice favouritism, nepotism and division amongst the Namibians and strive towards the economic emancipation of this industry and Namibia as whole.Toatamastu Via e-mailNote: Real name and address provided.This letter has been shortened – Ed