Political Perspective

SOMETIMES I wonder whether many Namibians don’t think of work, all work, as ‘dirty’; as something that they have to do simply in order to get a pay cheque at the end of each month.

And there seems to be a perception that increases and bonuses should happen as a matter of course, regardless of whether they give of their best or not. Ultimately, the realisation should hit home that their attitudes towards their work are integral to whether companies succeed or fail, and the NBC is an example in point.RECENTLY Home Affairs Minister Rosalia Nghidinwa raised a very pertinent issue when she said that the youth generally regarded manual work as ‘dirty and worthless’.The Minister urged youth not to look on what is known as ‘blue collar work’ as useless and it is true to say that such workers can go on to acquire skills which will sometimes earn them more than office workers.So the Minister is right.Different skills are needed in our economy, and blue collar workers are an essential component, and those working in the manual field can also take pride in what they do.But it is important not only to emphasise the necessity of physical labour, but also the diversity of good workers in all fields will do a lot for the economy, particularly if they care about their jobs and strive to get ahead.Let us take the very simple example of Windhoek itself.As a capital city in Africa, it has been commended by many people on its cleanliness.It may be so that it is the city fathers and mothers who insist on clean streets and well-kept roads, but it is the work of manual labourers which makes it possible.So on the question as to whether such people make a difference.Yes, indeed they do and they should take heart and validation from the praise that is heaped on Namibia for this very reason.These questions strike at the heart of unionism of course, and it stands to reason that workers, even those perceived as having menial kinds of jobs, should be decently paid and treated with the respect and dignity accorded to other, more skilled employees.But there comes a point when workers should also realise that not all demands are realistic or deserved for that matter.Workers, manual or otherwise, should not be short-sighted.Good people who work hard and try to improve themselves and their output should always rise to the top.We have many cases of rags to riches stories, not only in Namibia, but in the world at large.People who have come from humble beginnings, yet have developed from nothing to something.But in my view there’s nothing more destructive to progress than workers who continually do the minimum and yet expect nevertheless to reap financial reward, year after year.Most recently, of course, the NBC strike has been in the news.It should have made a huge difference that the NBC was off-air for the duration, but I wonder if in fact it had much impact.Yes, our national news was off the air, and people were given the Chinese equivalent (!?), but the standards are in any case so low that they weren’t really missed.People got their news elsewhere.So must the taxpayer foot the bill for increases to most, but not all NBC staff, who haven’t got enough work to do, let alone do it to the best of their ability? I seriously question this even though they’ve now got what they wanted and while they were about it, called for the booting of the Board and top management into the bargain! Why are NBC staff not taking ownership of the Corporation – questioning its financial viability, dependence on government, bad past management and indeed, the workers’ role in the demise of the NBC? They simply don’t do it, I’m afraid, because they obviously don’t care.As long as the money to increase their salaries comes from somewhere, who gives a damn whether the NBC is viable or not? And who cares that many there are enjoying sheltered employment at the expense of the taxpayer? Do they ever think of what they are giving back in return? I don’t think I’ve ever found myself in agreement with NBC Chairman Ponhele ya France before, but he’s emphasised, quite rightly, that NBC staff should understand that they are responsible for the current situation at the Corporation, from cleaners to the board of directors.’The cleaners are responsible for stealing toilet paper, the operators are responsible for stealing CDs, the management is guilty of signing cheques, while the board of directors are guilty of failing to control management and for making wrong decisions’, he said in a recent interview in a local newspaper.He also urged staff to realise that the NBC ‘belongs to all of us and all should take ownership of what’s happening ..’.Well said! We need more of the same, much more so that the realisation should strike home that work of whatever kind is good depending on what people put into it!Ultimately, the realisation should hit home that their attitudes towards their work are integral to whether companies succeed or fail, and the NBC is an example in point.RECENTLY Home Affairs Minister Rosalia Nghidinwa raised a very pertinent issue when she said that the youth generally regarded manual work as ‘dirty and worthless’.The Minister urged youth not to look on what is known as ‘blue collar work’ as useless and it is true to say that such workers can go on to acquire skills which will sometimes earn them more than office workers.So the Minister is right.Different skills are needed in our economy, and blue collar workers are an essential component, and those working in the manual field can also take pride in what they do.But it is important not only to emphasise the necessity of physical labour, but also the diversity of good workers in all fields will do a lot for the economy, particularly if they care about their jobs and strive to get ahead.Let us take the very simple example of Windhoek itself.As a capital city in Africa, it has been commended by many people on its cleanliness.It may be so that it is the city fathers and mothers who insist on clean streets and well-kept roads, but it is the work of manual labourers which makes it possible.So on the question as to whether such people make a difference.Yes, indeed they do and they should take heart and validation from the praise that is heaped on Namibia for this very reason.These questions strike at the heart of unionism of course, and it stands to reason that workers, even those perceived as having menial kinds of jobs, should be decently paid and treated with the respect and dignity accorded to other, more skilled employees.But there comes a point when workers should also realise that not all demands are realistic or deserved for that matter.Workers, manual or otherwise, should not be short-sighted.Good people who work hard and try to improve themselves and their output should always rise to the top.We have many cases of rags to riches stories, not only in Namibia, but in the world at large.People who have come from humble beginnings, yet have developed from nothing to something.But in my view there’s nothing more destructive to progress than workers who continually do the minimum and yet expect nevertheless to reap financial reward, year after year.Most recently, of course, the NBC strike has been in the news.It should have made a huge difference that the NBC was off-air for the duration, but I wonder if in fact it had much impact.Yes, our national news was off the air, and people were given the Chinese equivalent (!?), but the standards are in any case so low that they weren’t really missed.People got their news elsewhere.So must the taxpayer foot the bill for increases to most, but not all NBC staff, who haven’t got enough work to do, let alone do it to the best of their ability? I seriously question this even though they’ve now got what they wanted and while they were about it, called for the booting of the Board and top management into the bargain! Why are NBC staff not taking ownership of the Corporation – questioning its financial viability, dependence on government, bad past management and indeed, the workers’ role in the demise of the NBC? They simply don’t do it, I’m afraid, because they obviously don’t care.As long as the money to increase their salaries comes from somewhere, who gives a damn whether the NBC is viable or not? And who cares that many there are enjoying sheltered employment at the expense of the taxpayer? Do they ever think of what they are giving back in return? I don’t think I’ve ever found myself in agreement with NBC Chairman Ponhele ya France before, but he’s emphasised, quite rightly, that NBC staff should understand that they are responsible for the current situation at the Corporation, from cleaners to the board of directors.’The cleaners are responsible for stealing toilet paper, the operators are responsible for stealing CDs, the management is guilty of signing cheques, while the board of directors are guilty of failing to control management and for making wrong decisions’, he said in a recent interview in a local newspaper.He also urged staff to realise that the NBC ‘belongs to all of us and all should take ownership of what’s happening ..’.Well said! We need more of the same, much more so that the realisation should strike home that work of whatever kind is good depending on what people put into it!