Teach Your Children Well

IN recent weeks, Namibia became another statistic as far as public financial mismanagement is concerned.

We have just witnessed the worst financial scandals in the history of our young democratic state. In a country where poverty in rural and urban areas alike is alarming, one wonders why people in political positions do not use their willpower to fight against such a social evil.Poverty reduction has been one of the trademark concepts used by all the political parties in their campaigns during election times.Unfortunately, as the ruling party is working around the clock to do just that, some politicians are combining efforts with parastatal executives to milk some financial cows handling public money.Poverty continues to plague the urban and rural masses.The extent of corruption in our midst has greatly contributed to the decay of efforts directed towards reducing the poverty gap.It is therefore necessary for the stakeholders in the affairs of the national governance to work tirelessly to root out this evil predator.As a member of one of the sectors that form part of the stakeholders, I feel strongly that education can be used as a tool to root out corruption.Education planners should realise that the future of this country is in the hands of the next generation and should therefore think critically about incorporating anti-corruption issues in our education curricula.The idea would not only target schools, but all levels of the public sector.If we let the young ones learn about the evils of corruption and what corruption can do to the development of a country, then we have a bright-futured Namibia because the young ones are the leaders of tomorrow.We expose them at an early age to the perilous consequences of HIV and AIDS on the economy, so why not do the same with corruption? Alex Kamwi Gwala OhangwenaIn a country where poverty in rural and urban areas alike is alarming, one wonders why people in political positions do not use their willpower to fight against such a social evil.Poverty reduction has been one of the trademark concepts used by all the political parties in their campaigns during election times.Unfortunately, as the ruling party is working around the clock to do just that, some politicians are combining efforts with parastatal executives to milk some financial cows handling public money.Poverty continues to plague the urban and rural masses.The extent of corruption in our midst has greatly contributed to the decay of efforts directed towards reducing the poverty gap.It is therefore necessary for the stakeholders in the affairs of the national governance to work tirelessly to root out this evil predator.As a member of one of the sectors that form part of the stakeholders, I feel strongly that education can be used as a tool to root out corruption.Education planners should realise that the future of this country is in the hands of the next generation and should therefore think critically about incorporating anti-corruption issues in our education curricula.The idea would not only target schools, but all levels of the public sector.If we let the young ones learn about the evils of corruption and what corruption can do to the development of a country, then we have a bright-futured Namibia because the young ones are the leaders of tomorrow.We expose them at an early age to the perilous consequences of HIV and AIDS on the economy, so why not do the same with corruption? Alex Kamwi Gwala Ohangwena