Prime minister Elijah Ngurare has shared a personal experience of financial turmoil that nearly drove him to take his own life between 2015 and 2019.
Posting on his Facebook page, Ngurare says: “I was in serious financial stress, house and car were on the verge of being repossessed for prolonged nonpayment. The thought crossed my mind to commit suicide with the hope that my family could benefit from my life cover and that they pay off the debt in full.”
He credits the unwavering support of loved ones for helping him overcome that dark period.
“Thanks to the support of family, friends and comrades I managed to thwart off those thoughts. Financial stress happens to most of us and I am still paying off the debt.”
Ngurare urges Namibians facing similar despair to hold on.
“Please don’t go through with it. Fight on, the sun will shine again amid all hardships of life. To be alive is priceless, especially to one’s family.”
Calling for national solidarity, he adds: “Let’s hold hands as a nation to save those in financial distress. By all of us, I mean both government and the private sector. May God bless you all and may God bless Namibia,” he says.
His post comes at the back of many Namibians battling banks to keep their homes which are at risk of repossession due to loan none-payments.
The none-payments rose during the pandemic period and have been worsened by a financial crisis due to high unemployment rates.
