Renthia Kaimbi
Legal practitioner Sisa Namandje says black Namibians beg for work while white Namibians choose careers, arguing that almost 37 years after independence, a “deep happiness deficit” persists among the country’s black majority.
Delivering the inaugural John Akapandi Endjala Memorial Lecture in Windhoek yesterday on what would have been the late businessman’s 63rd birthday, Namandje, who identified himself as a direct beneficiary of Endjala’s mentorship, delivered the indictment of Namibia’s post-independence economic transformation record.
He argued that black Namibians remain unable to pursue the happiness promised in the Constitution’s preamble due to a lack of meaningful legislative and policy action.
Drawing on Article 23(2) of the Namibian Constitution which permits Parliament to enact laws advancing those disadvantaged by apartheid, Namandje accused both the legislature and the executive of timidity, restraint and even modesty in addressing racial economic imbalances.
“Let’s admit, not much has happened,” he told the audience.
“This is exactly why there remains a deep happiness deficit among black people in Namibia.”
The lecture posed a key question to whether the right to the pursuit of happiness, stated in the preamble to the Namibian Constitution, can be realised without tangible economic transformation policies favouring those who were socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged under apartheid.
Namandje argued that instead of being advanced ahead of whites, as the Constitution directs, black Namibians are being forced to compete on an unequal footing.
He lamented that in the absence of strong legislation, black businesspeople have no legal basis to challenge what he called the inequitable empowerment of “generally well-to-do whites” and sometimes foreigners.
“More regrettable is the fact that blacks are now subjected to insult[s] when seeking to question the legitimacy and propriety of economic opportunities disproportionately given to the well-resourced whites,” he said.
Drawing on a personal story to illustrate Endjala’s impact, Namandje recounted how in March 2003, on the eve of his admission as a legal practitioner, he was refused office space by the owners of the Capital Centre building in central Windhoek, who deemed him a financial risk.
Endjala, he said, stepped in, signing the lease in his own name.
“This impactful act enabled me, then an impressionable but socio-economically wounded young law graduate, to shine, to help, to build, to train and educate, to serve and uplift others,” he said. “The rest is good history.”
Namandje painted a picture of contemporary Namibia, where he said job market segregation has become openly visible.
He claimed that a white person has “the luxury and comfort to conveniently choose a preferred career without the risk of ending up with nothing,” while it is now common for 5 000 black Namibians to apply for a single cleaner’s position.
He said it would be a shock to find a white person among those applicants, just as he would be surprised to see a white person applying to become a cadet constable in the Namibian Police or as an immigration officer.
“There are now jobs conspicuously considered to be of lower quality to one racial group,” he said.
“How then, in this society, can blacks pursue the promised happiness?”
Namandje also addressed the “vicarious and contagious” nature of black poverty, noting that even relatively successful black professionals are burdened by daily requests for donations for burials, school fees and basic food.
He cited WhatsApp groups created solely to seek small sums, arguing that “black success is made illusory and futile” when the wealthy must constantly carry others.
“Poverty-induced mental distress is now a very serious health risk and, more alarmingly, suicides are on the rise in figures not seen before,” he warned.
In direct criticism of Parliament, Namandje said that at some point in the past, the National Assembly floor had become the best place to learn how to throw “killer punches” and hurl degrading insults.
“We are in problems,” he said flatly. He called for a total mindset reconstruction, arguing that many aspiring public officials are not well-socialised into the fundamental values and norms of the Constitution.
He concluded that 37 years after Namibia’s “dance for freedom,” the country is still very far from enabling its citizens, especially black Namibians, to pursue a life of happiness.
“Akapandi tried until the last day of his life… People must first live before being asked to dream,” Namandje stated.
