National News – Page 392 – Windhoek Observer

19 Nov

Barking at the wrong threat

ObserverNational NewsChinese, Namibia

There is negative shade flying all over about a recent N$530 tender bid won by a Chinese company to construct the road from Tses to Gochas. People are barking at the wrong threat. Rather, we need to sound the alarm because Namibia still does not possess the technical expertise to be substantive practical, logistical and development partner on major infrastructure projects in our own country. That is a real threat to our sovereignty and we are quiet. We have been inviting the world in to build things for us before independence and after. We happily remain ignorant about how to…

18 Nov

Going too far hurts credibility

ObserverNational NewsBernadus Swartbooi, SWAPO

The claims by the vibrant politician Bernadus Swartbooi that Swapo wants to kill him are over-the-top and challenge his credibility. Many in Namibia are depending on new firebrand politicians, including Swartbooi, to challenge sacred cows. People want them to question authority, give voice to the marginalized, and energize younger people. They are expected to force political debate into the 21st century, put the spotlight on those suffering in silence, and fearlessly call out corruption. But, statements from the Trump School of Demagoguery and Lunacy reflect poorly on the politicians who make them. Swartbooi’s ravings with no evidence or proof whatsoever…

14 Nov

Freedom of speech is absolute

ObserverNational NewsBotswana Defence Force (BDF), Hage Geingob, State House Press Secretary Alfredo Hengari

State House Press Secretary Alfredo Hengari got it wrong when he decried legal plans for citizens to demonstrate against the killing of Namibians by the Botswana Defence Force (BDF). The best course of action for government officials regarding citizens expressing their constitutional right to demonstrate and express their opinions (following all regulations), was to say nothing. During an election campaign and any other time, the president should not be exposed in such a way. The statements articulated on this issue make Hage Geingob look as if he wants people to be silent just because he says so. The statements came…

13 Nov

The unseen is more dangerous

ObserverNational NewsNamibia, Ohangwena

Over 2,000 previously registered students in the Ohangwena region did not return to school as classes reopened after the state of emergency. There is a wide range of reasons for this. But, the bottom line is that 2,000 more young people have their futures placed in jeopardy. They and any children they have are in line for grinding, cyclical, generational poverty. This is the kind of issue that should be driving the 2020 regional elections and should inspire budgets of every relevant ministry. Often it is the unseen threat that is more dangerous. If we see a problem coming, we…

12 Nov

Swapo must update its campaign rhetoric

ObserverNational NewsMinister of Defence, SWAPO

The spate of strange and inappropriate comments from Swapo speakers on the campaign trail is embarrassing. The crowds listening to high public officials pontificate about their voting choices at the end of this month are not the same crowds that were listening to Swapo heroes in 1989. Swapo speakers must update themselves and not be so out of date. Most of those in the crowds hearing these odd speeches were in kindergarten or not even born when such virulent, ‘anyone-not Swapo-is-an-enemy’ speeches were relevant. People in the voting mainstream don’t think like that anymore after 30 years of independence. The…

11 Nov

Racist homes breed racist children

ObserverNational NewsCOVID, Deutsche Höhere Privatschule (DHPS)

When young students use racism as a weapon against their fellow students as has been reported as commonplace in the Deutsche Höhere Privatschule (DHPS) in Windhoek, it means that the families of those offending students are racist. White people don’t like being called racist and always believe that their two black friends or the fact that they give their second-hand clothes to their black maid is a badge of non-racism. This year of George Floyd and COVID and economic disaster has been a golden opportunity for all people to introspect. We must find a way to live together or shrivel…

10 Nov

US credibility about elections is tainted

ObserverNational Newselections, US

Free and fair elections are a major pillar of a healthy democracy. One of the major casualties for the United States after the negativity and uncertainty of its 2020 national elections is its self-appointed role as a monitor/arbiter of electoral democracy worldwide. US judgements on other people’s elections have been a bell-weather on a country’s access to development assistance, trade agreements and global recognition. Those days are gone; US credibility to judge other people’s elections now carries the taint of hypocrisy. The outgoing US president, Donald Trump, has been clear that if he did not win a second term, the…

06 Nov

Protests and, pronouncements solve nothing

ObserverNational NewsGBV, Namibia, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV)

Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) are the norm in the Republic of Namibia. The majority of women can expect to be victims on varying levels at some point in their lives. Speeches, meetings and protests will not save a woman from a bullet, a knife or fist in her face. We need to move to the stage where we are willing to dig deep into the core of the sickness in our men who perpetrate GBV and rape and cut it out at the roots. To do this is a game-changer that society is not yet ready for…yet. It…

06 Nov

NSFAF put the cart before the horse

ObserverNational NewsNSFAF

NSFAF is now cutting back from offering 32,000 laptops for tertiary education students to 10,000. The question begs about why a needs assessment was not done BEFORE the tender for the higher number of laptops was offered? Why did we need all of the noise about the needs of online education for students when the estimate of usage was a thumb suck? We all recall that pandemic prevention rules made remote education a priority. We quickly realized our entire system was not suited for this reality. With little time to get things moving, the mandate for off campus classes became…

05 Nov

Young politicians must cut their teeth

ObserverNational NewsHafeni Mafita, PDM

The recent decision by the PDM to expel their candidate for the John Pandeni constituency, Hafeni Mafita, is quite telling. The young politician posted on social media, “I hate whites.” These are ugly words. However, this is the first in a line of faux pas, gaffs, and immature moves by the plethora of younger candidates now gracing Namibia’s political scene. Let the initial response to these errors be more supportive than punitive. Mafita’s real violation is not hating whites but posting it online. And in saying it on social media, he put his immature foot deeply in his own mouth.…