Vision 2030 is possible

WHEN Namibia gained Independence in 1990 a torch of hope was lit. A torch of hope for the majority of the people who for generations were oppressed and subjected to the fate of poverty and hopelessness in the land of their birth; a torch of hope for their prosperity in a land of abundance, the land bequeathed to them by their forefathers; a torch of hope for opportunities for all; a torch of hope for a better day. Today, twenty years later, this torch is still burning.

And, no doubt, we will never allow this torch to die. We can never let this hope disappear. Until we have achieved our national goal of Vision 2030 this torch will continue burning. Thus I can confidently say that we will achieve Vision 2030 sooner than many people imagined.Despite our poverty, our indomitable spirit will carry us through this short period of work towards Vision 2030. We are not a weak nation. We are a small nation in terms of numbers, but we are not a small nation in terms of capability. We are capable of turning our poverty into a powerful catalyst for change. Changing our circumstances, changing our environments, change for a better society.We as young people face many challenges and encounter many obstacles. But we will never quit. The work that was started on 21st March 1990 will continue, the work will continue, the work of building a nation, a prosperous nation, a thriving economy. We will never quit. Unless this work is complete we will never sleep at night with clear consciences. Unless we have solved the problem of unemployment, we will never sleep. Unless we have solved the problem of lack of housing for the majority of our people, we will never sleep. Unless we have succeeded in making the Namibian dream come true, we will always have sleepless nights.If other nations can do it, we also can do it. If they did manage to move out of the Iron Age, if they managed to move out of the Dark Ages, if they managed to move out of the caves of central Europe, to build for themselves an industrial and technological world, then we too can do it. Vision 2030 is possible.Namibia needs men who can dream of things which are beyond themselves. The nation needs young women who will rise above the traditional yet not lose hold of their roots. The nation needs individuals who will work tirelessly for the purpose of personal achievement, yet not lose sight of communal interest.The foundation is already laid. The founding fathers and mothers of our republic have left us a legacy of peace, freedom and unity. We, as young people, have the opportunity in front of us to leave the legacy of prosperity.We have to stand up now and do something. Democracy and self-determination means we are in charge of the destiny of our nation. We are in full control of the direction our country is heading to. We are in charge of our people’s well-being. Each one of us has to stand up and do something. You cannot just sit on your intelligence while people have no jobs. You cannot sit on your potential while your community has no leader. If you are educated, you cannot just sit on your education while your people are poor. The purpose of education is self-improvement and social advancement. Your education is meaningless unless it leads to both self-improvement and social advancement.As we face the next 20 years, we carry the greatest task on our shoulders – which is the task of creating a prosperous Namibian society.Victor Angula Franciscus

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