Kae Matundu Tjiparuro
So many turnarounds have been spoken about since Namibia’s independence in 1990 in many spheres of Namibia’s socio-economic endeavours. All of them under the ambition, if not pretence, of improving the socio-economic conditions in the country, if, as it may and has been, much so for the well-to-do rather than for the betterment of the downtrodden.
In fact, little has been spoken about and continues to be said about a turnaround in the living, let alone survival conditions, of the economically exploited masses in the country, especially the working class.
This is not to say there hasn’t been any and/or little talk about it, if talks about economic freedom and/or emancipation are worth mentioning.
In one of the many empty and hollow bids ever at a turnaround, chief executive officers (CEOs) of the Namibian business sectors are calling on the government to act fast in removing barriers to investment.
The question that naturally and immediately comes to mind is whether the removal of the said barriers, real and/or imagined, would in any way, and by any means and measures, usher in, and in a significant manner for that matter, a material turnaround in the living standards of the downtrodden.
Other than, on the contrary, entrenching the pertaining capitalist and/or free market production system, and as a corollary worsening the continued exploitation and wretchedness of the working class?
That in this age and era, when ordinarily Namibia must seriously start engaging in a public discourse of how and when she would address the viciousness of the capitalist system, instead of being expected to help entrench it, as the CEOs are requesting, cannot but induce in Yours Truly Ideologically, if not in all craving for fundamental material change, an increased sense of hopelessness, if Namibia shall ever start thinking about arresting, even before reversing and eventually eradicating, the ills of capitalism.
Which are inequalities, abject poverty, hunger, and starvation.
These evils and ills of capitalism are visited upon Namibians every day. “35 die from malnutrition in Erongo,” reads a headline in one of the local English dailies only last Friday.
Reporting on 35 children under five years having died from malnutrition in the Erongo Region between 2024 and 2026.
Still, 450 others with malnutrition-related conditions were reported to have been admitted to medical care institutions.
The Erongo Region is but only one region to be recording and reporting on such incidents. The case of the Omaheke Region, which in the past also registered deaths, is a pointer that such incidents may be only pointers of a tip of the iceberg.
This makes the question relevant as to when and if ever, Namibia shall ever start to talk about a turnaround in the living conditions of the wretched.
A condition of their wretchedness inextricably linked to relations of production in Namibia, and their exploitative nature because of the inherent nature of exploitation of capitalism.
Yet, strangely but understandably, there is and has been little and/or no talk of a turnaround strategy in the root causes of the ills of inequalities, poverty, and squalor, as you would have it.
All of which are a manifestation of the vicious and invisible hand of capitalism.
Invisibly, capitalism is and has been engineering the given socio-economic ills such as inequalities, camouflaged by its decadence.
A decadence which is, for that matter, only enjoyed by a few while the masses are only imagining it, put under the illusion that they are equally enjoying this decadence, while capitalism, especially its viciousness, is not only thereby rendered invisible but also invincible.
Because despite being condemned perpetually by the very capitalist relations of production, and thus by the capitalist system, to exploitation, impoverishment, and inequality, very few of the masses, if any at all, blame their conditions on this very system.
Nor on the very people imposing this system on them and upholding and propping it to their detriment.
Looking up to the very same people, through their blind allegiance to their political formations, as their leaders and continuing to return them to political power year after year.
Only for them to return and do nothing out of the ordinary in terms of their living, actually survival conditions.
Because all that the wretched are and have been doing, the attaining circumstances of continued exploitation notwithstanding, is to retain these so-called leaders and their political formations, only for them to continue, on behalf of capitalism, to subject and subjugate them to exploitation and poverty.
The Namibian economy is and has been showing no prospects of turning the curve, whatever curve it needs to be turning for an ordinary Namibian person to be able to live, if not a comfortable life, at least not to be malnourished, and the children in particular not to suffer malnourishment at best, and at worst, to die from hunger.
Statistics show that inflation for the last three years has continued to rise.
As a result, ordinary Namibians, and/or working Namibians, 546 000 in total, have no disposable income, having to resort to borrowing to be able to afford the daily basic necessities.
With 51.3% of the Namibian working population compelled to borrow money to buy food. We are talking about working people who are subjected to such eventualities.
Needless to say, this unenviable state of survival is exacerbated by the high unemployment rate within the country.
With those working in the households finding living hard as a result of the high cost of living because of inflation, having to deal with the added pressure of also fending for the unemployed among their households.
This is a situation, needless to mention, that has also been manifesting itself in the elderlies having, from their meagre monthly allowances that have remained stagnant in the face of ever-rising prices, found living a total challenge if not completely suicidal.
This extra pressure of having to fend, worst of all for able-bodied people who cannot find work, makes it no more easier for the elderly given their advanced age and their frailty.
Yet, one hears little regarding a turnaround, not to mention in the least how this unbearable situation could be ameliorated, arrested, reversed, and eventually eradicated. Instead, the antidote has been a constant dose of empty promises.
