Selling Out To China?

ALLOW me space in your esteemed newspaper to express my views in connection with the recent happenings regarding China and Namibia.

Some few months ago, we read about alleged corruption scandals between Helao Nafidi Town Council, represented by the then CEO and some Chinese businesses in the Ohangwena region, and then Teko Trading CC with China based Nuctech in which a Public Service Commissioner in our government and the son of the Chinese president were named. Recently we also read about China Scholarships allegedly for the elite class’ (high ranking government officials’) children or relatives. As if all these and many public tenders awarded to Chinese businesses are not enough, our own Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare was quoted by a local weekly newspaper allegedly siding with Chinese construction companies that are abusing and mistreating our own poor people whose interests and welfare he is suppose to defend and protect from these abusers. Apparently, he said the following; ‘If you find that you are not being given the money you want, why are you continuing to work? They should stop going to work and those Chinese will change. Workers are also not organised. They must not just complain without taking action.’ (Informanté, 29 October 2009).My concern is, he suggests that, the employees must stop complaining and take actions. That is fine and we will do so at the polling points come November 27-28. But he must tell us:Who invited and awarded the tenders to Chinese companies that are not obeying and violating our Labour Laws and Acts?Who has more power to enforce or ensure that all companies comply and fulfil the Labour Law and Acts requirements?Does he know that many of our youth are in the streets and these employees are in this situation because the government he represents failed them educationally (skills development)?He must remember the saying that says ‘half a loaf is better than nothing’ but that does not mean they must be quiet because they get half a loaf from his friends. What these employees want is to be given what they deserve, to be treated with due respect in their own country, to have conducive and better working conditions and to solicit support from his office etc. My conclusion regarding all these happenings is that our own government is slowly but surely selling us to Chinese for their own, their counterparts and comrades’ benefit. Nuctech-Teko Trading, Public tenders to Chinese, Land for Chinese, Chinese Scholarships for the elite class and many other happenings are testimonies to my reasoning. Let us ask ourselves the following question; Is it a coincidence that the son of the current Chinese president is named in the Teko Trading-Nuctech corruption scandal, and then barely a month later, the Chinese government forwards a Scholarship for the strategically placed elite in our government? Who is buying, silencing or protecting who here?Why is our Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare failing to ensure that Chinese businesses in Namibia adhere to our Labour Laws and Acts? Is it that they don’t see it happening?Ask yourself many more China-Namibia related questions and give your honest answer.Lastly, let us all remember that we are the majority and that we can bring about change where it is needed. That way we will teach our current government and future governments a lesson that they must put the nation’s interest first and not their self-centred interests at the expense of the poor majority that voted them in power. Furthermore, we must stop throwing stones and assaulting one another at political party rallies (esp. Swapo vs. RDP), because after all these, we the majority return back to poverty, unemployment, back into the streets, back to lack of better education, and access to scholarships etc. while the few elite class that was not involved in the throwing stones and assaults goes back to their isolated high class places where they lay their hands on anything they want (not need). Let a sense of maturity, accountability and political tolerance rule the Land of the Brave.JohnVia e-mailNote: Real name and address provided – Ed