Political Perspective

AS a nation, we need to seriously get back to the basics, in almost every sense. We cannot reach for the skies or attain our goals unless we’ve got good and solid foundations in virtually all areas of national life.

Politicians must get back in touch with the people (and I don’t mean by giving more speeches!) and the people need to be helped to forge an understanding of their basic responsibilities which must accompany all their rights. LET’S take a number of examples.The economy – yes, we want to make it work for us so we are able to provide our people with all the basics and more.Like the ‘American dream’, it should be possible for those from all walks of life to attain the ‘Namibian dream’ too.But by honest, rather than devious means.And if we take it back to the basics, then what do we really need to boost our economy? Firstly, we need people who are prepared to work hard.Surely this is a non-negotiable.Do we have a hardworking nation or a strong work ethic? In general terms, no.And I would insist that this is the most fundamental change we need to make in order to go forward.Do we have an honest nation? Again I would maintain in general terms that we don’t.Too much culture of entitlement, too much complacency, too much of an uncaring attitude of what it means to have work and to do it well, and to know that if you do better, you can ascend the ranks.That is what the ‘Namibian dream’ should be all about.Working hard, being honest, and attaining one’s personal goals, be they material or otherwise.Do we have role models (if this is what we aspire towards?) – private individuals who made their money through hard work, innovation, creativity, and business skills, whether learned or earned? Not many.If we had a Forbes-like index of the 100 wealthiest individuals in Namibia, how many of them would stand out as examples to the community? Again, I would guess, only a few.The rest – and we all know it – individuals who suddenly appear to have accumulated vast wealth, have probably done so through ill-gotten gains in too many cases.And that is unfortunately the example that is set – a bad one.Why would anyone choose to work hard, go through the system from novice to junior to senior, picking up skills and experience along the way, if many of our elite have reached these heights with minimal effort? We need to ask ourselves these questions.Let’s take education as the second example.This underpins what I’ve talked about above.If we cannot have an education system which takes people to a certain minimal level in terms of English language skills (which for better or worse is our official medium of instruction) then we can be as fancy as we like, but to no avail.We will not turn out good students, and we will not promote a strong and literate workforce, whether at white- or blue-collar level.We can spout the need for science and maths education as much as we like, but we will not succeed in building our human resource levels if they don’t have a basic, thorough grounding in English.So again, I would say that it’s necessary for our education sector to put aside all grandiose plans until such time as we have an English literate youth.Take then the issue of our labour force as a totality.Without abovementioned basics, those who are the menial workers of society will stay that way forever, without any prospect of advancement if they are not properly grounded in the English language and the honest work ethic.With these tools, it should be possible for nearly everyone in Namibia to have a future they can aspire towards.Someone like a shop salesperson will be more customer friendly because they can communicate, firstly, and secondly, have understanding of what their job in the service industry entails, and thirdly, understand what is expected of them, and what they need to advance.And advance they will if they can understand their customer’s needs, can communicate pleasantly and co-operate efficiently.Not everyone can be a millionaire, self-made or otherwise, but a good life should be quite within reach to those who know what is required to advance.Unfortunately, and I believe many will agree on a fairly negative attitude towards our service industry workers, more often than not one encounters shop assistants for instance (this is just an example which counts for all work sectors) who are surly, shrug their shoulders if one has a query, don’t greet customers, and generally make it appear that they couldn’t give a damn.And truth is, they probably don’t.They are those who will miss work at the slightest sniff, be the first to demand wage hikes and run to unions and to the Labour Court if they are taken to task! So let us get rid of the manager who can’t and doesn’t manage; the student who doesn’t attend class and writes no assignments yet expects to pass; in short, those who feel entitled, even though they do minimal work or are guilty of other wrongdoings, and yet call on society to protect them when they are taken to task.This attitude now seems part of our national psyche and we need to get back to basics to get it (us) right as a crucial first step to developing our economy and thereby our nation.LET’S take a number of examples.The economy – yes, we want to make it work for us so we are able to provide our people with all the basics and more.Like the ‘American dream’, it should be possible for those from all walks of life to attain the ‘Namibian dream’ too.But by honest, rather than devious means.And if we take it back to the basics, then what do we really need to boost our economy? Firstly, we need people who are prepared to work hard.Surely this is a non-negotiable.Do we have a hardworking nation or a strong work ethic? In general terms, no.And I would insist that this is the most fundamental change we need to make in order to go forward.Do we have an honest nation? Again I would maintain in general terms that we don’t.Too much culture of entitlement, too much complacency, too much of an uncaring attitude of what it means to have work and to do it well, and to know that if you do better, you can ascend the ranks.That is what the ‘Namibian dream’ should be all about.Working hard, being honest, and attaining one’s personal goals, be they material or otherwise.Do we have role models (if this is what we aspire towards?) – private individuals who made their money through hard work, innovation, creativity, and business skills, whether learned or earned? Not many.If we had a Forbes-like index of the 100 wealthiest individuals in Namibia, how many of them would stand out as examples to the community? Again, I would guess, only a few.The rest – and we all know it – individuals who suddenly appear to have accumulated vast wealth, have probably done so through ill-gotten gains in too many cases.And that is unfortunately the example that is set – a bad one.Why would anyone choose to work hard, go through the system from novice to junior to senior, picking up skills and experience along the way, if many of our elite have reached these heights with minimal effort? We need to ask ourselves these questions.Let’s take education as the second example.This underpins what I’ve talked about above.If we cannot have an education system which takes people to a certain minimal level in terms of English language skills (which for better or worse is our official medium of instruction) then we can be as fancy as we like, but to no avail.We will not turn out good students, and we will not promote a strong and literate workforce, whether at white- or blue-collar level.We can spout the need for science and maths education as much as we like, but we will not succeed in building our human resource levels if they don’t have a basic, thorough grounding in English.So again, I would say that it’s necessary for our education sector to put aside all grandiose plans until such time as we have an English literate youth.Take then the issue of our labour force as a totality.Without abovementioned basics, those who are the menial workers of society will stay that way forever, without any prospect of advancement if they are not properly grounded in the English language and the honest work ethic.With these tools, it should be possible for nearly everyone in Namibia to have a future they can aspire towards.Someone like a shop salesperson will be more customer friendly because they can communicate, firstly, and secondly, have understanding of what their job in the service industry entails, and thirdly, understand what is expected of them, and what they need to advance.And advance they will if they can understand their customer’s needs, can communicate pleasantly and co-operate efficiently.Not everyone can be a millionaire, self-made or otherwise, but a good life should be quite within reach to those who know what is required to advance.Unfortunately, and I believe many will agree on a fairly negative attitude towards our service industry workers, more often than not one encounters shop assistants for instance (this is just an example which counts for all work sectors) who are surly, shrug their shoulders if one has a query, don’t greet customers, and generally make it appear that they couldn’t give a damn.And truth is, they probably don’t.They are those who will miss work at the slightest sniff, be the first to demand wage hikes and run to unions and to the Labour Court if they are taken to task! So let us get rid of the manager who can’t and doesn’t manage; the student who doesn’t attend class and writes no assignments yet expects to pass; in short, those who feel entitled, even though they do minimal work or are guilty of other wrongdoings, and yet call on society to protect them when they are taken to task.This attitude now seems part of our national psyche and we need to get back to basics to get it (us) right as a crucial first step to developing our economy and thereby our nation.