Tribalism could destabilise Namibia

Tribalism could destabilise Namibia

16 Mar 2012 - Story by Lorraine Kazondovi

Article Views (non-unique): 55

WINDHOEK - “We are entering a dangerous route and I am scared of what will happen after 2 December this year,” said Bishop Dr Zephania Kameeta.
The respected clergyman was referring to the practice of tribalism and racism and their possible aftermath at the SWAPO congress to elect the presidential successor later in the year for crucial elections slated for 2014.
He made the statement at a poorly attended panel discussion on racism and tribalism at the University of Namibia (UNAM) on Wednesday night.
Guest panellist, Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Hage Geingob, was a no show as well as a number of other invited leaders, according to the organising committee at UNAM.
Mainly students from UNAM and their lecturers as well as a handful of elders attended the discussion.
“These messages are falling on deaf ears,” complained some of the youths present.
Kameeta said the continuation of tribalism and racism is a scandal after 22 years of independence.
“We are destroying our own dreams, including Vision 2030,” he warned.
Panellists, as well as the Editor at The Namibian, Tangeni Amupadhi, expressed annoyance at leaders who are spreading the debate over tribalism to the ignorant masses with statements like “you are in this situation because the Owambos put you here, or you can only do better with an Afrikaner surname”.
Amupadhi said this is a tactic to look for votes and sympathy during campaigns and he is unhappy that tribal identities have become stronger since independence.
“Leader’s roles are to ensure that all citizens prosper and society at large is taken care of,” he emphasised, explaining that tribalism is a symptom hiding real issues such as inequality and poverty.
Another panellist, Namibian musician Shishani Vranckx, said it is difficult to obliterate the history and legacy of a nation, hence the importance of belonging to a tribe, which is part of an individual’s identity.
“It is better to address and get over our differences and accept diversity,” she said. “You should be proud of your heritage, but that should not make you better than the next person,” she said.
Kameeta reiterated that it is not wrong to belong to a tribe or race. However, it becomes a problem when a tribe or race becomes the tribe above all others.
He suggested that not only the language but also the practice of tribalism and racism should be condemned.
“The youth are already doing something as they interact with various tribes as students. We do not choose social groupings. UNAM has created societies where different people can have a platform to communicate and interact,” said a member of the audience in defence of the youth in the country.
Another panellist, UNAM student Maruschka Afrikaner, said her role as a youth is to be the change and not repeat past mistakes. “We rather address economic classes such as a working class and not separate them tribally.”
Amupadhi asked whether politicians are to blame for tribalism since the practice has become prominent after independence.
“Within SWAPO, there is a difference with people from Omusati and those from Ohangwena”, he said.
Dr. Lucy Edwards-Jauch from the Sociology department at UNAM explained that Namibians have never integrated because of economic exclusion. “The elite are still playing the race and tribal cards to prosper,” she said.
“Privileges and exclusions fuel tribalism as well as political mobilisation on ethnic identity, such as those of Mishake Muyongo and the newly formed Kavango political party,” said Edwards-Jauch.
When asked why he did not take issue with Tileni Mongudhi’s tribally loaded question in the Kazenambo-Mongudhi saga, Amupadhi responded that it is wrong for people to say that Aawambo leaders are not criticised and gave the example of RDP President Hidipo Hamutenya who he said was criticised for his political move that allegedly promotes Kwanyama-ism.

In Namibia the population below poverty line is 55.8%

Population below poverty line: 55.8%
note: the UNDP's 2005 Human Development Report indicated that 34.9% of the population live on $1 per day and 55.8% live on $2 per day (2005 est.)

Definition: National estimates of the percentage of the population falling below the poverty line are based on surveys of sub-groups, with the results weighted by the number of people in each group. Definitions of poverty vary considerably among nations. For example, rich nations generally employ more generous standards of poverty than poor nations.

Source: CIA World Factbook - Unless otherwise noted, information in this page is accurate as of January 9, 2012

Journalism in Namibia has become an expanding and self-righteous space

Namibia’s Media Landscape Is Stuck In The Stone Age

By: Alfredo Tjiurimo Hengari

WEAK and bad journalism has the potential to undermine democratic debate and development.

To have weak and unqualified journalists is as good or as bad as having incompetent and unqualified leaders. Both are toxic and retard progress.
While bad politicians may still have in theory power with responsibility because they have to provide tangible outcomes and account during elections, journalists are not exposed to that fate. As a result of this lack of discernible accountability, journalism in Namibia has become an expanding and self-righteous space, with each entity functioning in its own traditional journalistic silo.
What is more problematic is that this expansion has not been accompanied by the deepening of quality journalism. This is not surprising because Namibia does not have a critical mass of highly educated and well-trained journalists. Journalism is somewhat clerical and looks more like an outlet for anyone who can carry a pen and a folio, speak and write a bit of English. Without exigent demands and rigorous judgment, some of the stories and columns that we now read in various papers look more like graffiti with punctuation. In light of this calamitous state of the media, four observations deserve to be made.
First, the absence of professional skills, both as a result of a lack of relevant education and training in this sector, suggest that the nature of journalism in Namibia has not been sufficiently dynamic and up to date with regional and global trends. Bar a few exceptions and innovations, our media landscape has remained excessively rudimentary. Those with access to international media, including broadcast channels such as Al-Jazeera, CNN, BBC, France 24 or newspapers such as the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Le Monde or South Africa’s Business Day, cannot but bemoan the provincialism in which the Namibia’s media landscape finds itself. What one observes in international media is the important transformation of how news is delivered to an increasingly demanding heterogenous audience. Namibian media has not bought into this transformation, which essentially entails asking what to do with information, including how to process information for audiences, thereby informing judgment and choice. For well over a decade, newspapers and broadcasters have moved away from merely providing information to readers and listeners.
Second, due to the globalisation of information, ‘citizen’ journalists, bloggers and columnists have become commonplace and have opinions – even on things they know nothing about. The availability of information has made this possible. If you want to be informed, you will be more or less informed. The battle then, is not about information, but the quality of investigations, the depth with which information is commented on and delivered to audiences. Looking at things this way explains why I was pretty appalled by the sameness of newspaper reports on Swapo’s last Central Committee meeting - no research and depth, no searing political analysis and philosophical questioning which ordinarily would accompany a story of that nature for the New York Times or Le Monde. Among others, it was also appalling to see the 50th anniversary of the death of Frantz Fanon to pass without any special supplements or commentary. Yet, banal birthdays of the president and prime minister enjoy special treatment for purely commercial reasons. There seem to be no fine equilibrium between the commercial and intellectual pursuits, which define the vitality of world-class media.
Third, my gut tells me that Namibians are willing to learn. Newspapers and broadcasters must be at the cutting edge of that process. Namibians want to see and read more about pressing issues with robust policy and news analysis around these. They want the strengths and weaknesses of the undeclared candidacies of Jerry Ekandjo or Pendukeni Ithana for Swapo’s presidential nomination to be well-researched and analysed in headline stories. They want to know more about the men and women behind the subterranean political campaigns in Swapo. In short, Namibians need the type of journalism that is probing, audacious and sets the political and economic agenda, and does not simply follow the agenda as set by politicians or business-leaders. Newspapers must be able to construct and comment on issues competently in their own right. Politicians should in return act on these. Certainly, to deliver news and information in a policy-oriented manner would demand well-remunerated, well-skilled and specialists journalists with global perspectives.
In other parts of the globe, journalists are intellectual and policy-gurus in their own right, capable of holding substantive debates with academics and politicians. Alas, our journalism is not in that space. To move in this direction demands that newspapers and media in general get out of traditional sectarian spaces. In Paris, New York or Johannesburg, regular public panel discussions through partnerships with universities and think tanks are the second skin of newspapers and broadcasters. It is just plain intellectual laziness to have a nation whose main reflex for discussion and feedback is the immediacy of a 160 character SMS in newspapers. To take society upwards, journalists, newspapers and broadcasters should be deeply intellectual and philosophical forces in their own right.
What I seek to suggest here is that the media must foster a Socratic ethic of discussion by taking issues beyond print and broadcast into university halls, cafés and community halls for deeper analysis and questioning. They must occupy the terrain of ideas fully. Le Monde, the leading, but financially stressed French newspaper, has through Les débats du Monde programmed panel discussions in cafes and theatres on a range of pressing issues. It has, like many other leading papers of the world, established platforms for public debates. Refined newspapers also participate and measure public opinion through polls and special thematic publications.
Fourth, to do the things that I have just mentioned would require deep introspection and an auto-critique on the part of media owners, editors and journalists. Some of the best schools of journalism, such as Rhodes University or Stellenbosch University are in neighbouring South Africa. But then, how many journalists came out of these universities during the past decade? Quality journalists, with good degrees as a solid foundation for further professional training, would demand important investments. These investments, essential for a brighter future for journalism in Namibia, have not yet been made. That explains why we find ourselves in this pious situation. I, and perhaps others may want to see our cabinet to look like that of Singapore, with good doctorates and master degrees from elite institutions. Similarly, our editors and journalists as an important estate in our democracy should also be inhabited by men and women who have studied at some of the world’s finer institutions.
What can be said, by way of conclusion, is that the driving force behind the transformation and refinement of journalism lies in thinking beyond excessive commercial logic, and more in education, skilling and innovation. This may even change the rudimentary perception that politicians and newspapers owners have of journalists. At present, our journalism is still crude. It ought to move beyond the stone-age stage.

* Alfredo Tjiurimo Hengari is a PhD-fellow in political science and researcher at the Centre for Political Research at the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, France. He is currently a guest lecturer in European Studies at Rouen Business School, France.

Namibian Ex-ECN boss charged with fraud

Ex-ECN boss charged with fraud

By: BRIGITTE WEIDLICH

THE former Director of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) and two others have been summonsed to appear in court next month on a charge of alleged election fraud.

It allegedly relates to preparations in February last year for the municipal election in the newly proclaimed town of Omuthiya.
Fillemon Kanime only received his summons at around 15h00 yesterday, although a local weekly paper reported on the matter on Friday already.

“I only heard that I am to be charged from other people who read it in that paper,” Kanime told The Namibian on Saturday, when approached for comment.
“If you find a copy of the summons with the charges, please get me one, I am interested to know what the charges are,” he said.
Yesterday afternoon, Kanime told The Namibian that a Police officer had hand-delivered the summons to his house.
Kanime was put on “special leave” in March 2008 while his deputy, Ananias Elago, Chief Control Officer Hesekiel Shigwedha and Chief System Administrator Nicodemus Mingelius were suspended for several months in the aftermath of the Omuthiya election.
The municipal election was scheduled for February 29 2008, but was called off at the last minute amidst accusations of inefficiency, questions of loyalty and claims of political knives sharpened.
Residents could only vote for their town councillors in September 2008. In February last year violence had erupted around political rallies held by the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) during the election campaign.
Swapo members and supporters had clashed with RDP supporters.
One female Police officer was stabbed with a knife and wounded while another person was stabbed to death at the entrance to a butchery at Omuthiya belonging to Justice Minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana. Swapo held two rallies on the premises of that butchery in February 2008.
The other two accused are Magnus Nangombe (Accused No 1), who allegedly appeared fraudulently on the voters’ roll for Omuthiya, and Nico Mingelius (Accused No 2). They are both accused of having allegedly “forged an application for registration as a voter … on Form 2004305280 dated February 6 2008,” according to the summons seen by The Namibian.
Kanime was accused of “wrongfully, falsely and with intend to defraud, giving out and pretending to the Electoral Commission and/or Government that Accused No 1 (Nangombe) was on February 6 2008 lawfully and properly registered at Omuthiya for the election”.
Nangombe and Mingelius are also charged on the same count.
All three must appear in the Windhoek Regional Court on Friday, June 5.
Nangombe, who is the President of the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta), on Saturday said he had not received the summons yet and was only informed by Mingelius about the matter.
“I asked him to fax me a copy to the Nabta office, but I am in the North for the weekend to attend a family funeral,” Nangombe told The Namibian.
Mingelius said he received his summons on Thursday already.
“My suspension was lifted around July 2008 and I returned to work.” According to sources, all other suspended employees had their suspension lifted around the same time. No disciplinary hearings were conducted, a source close to the ECN said.
Nangombe is an RDP member and his party registered complaints with regard to irregularities after the Omuthiya voters’ roll was made public.
Nangombe was listed as RDP candidate for the Omuthiya town council.
The ECN scrapped his name from the list after Swapo claimed Kanime had smuggled Nangombe onto the voters’ roll, as he allegedly registered after the official cut-off date.
Kanime hit back by claiming that he did not know how Swapo had got hold of the list of candidates but he was sure that Nangombe had registered in time.
Swapo objected to the presence of Nangombe’s name together with 11 others, while the RDP had pointed out that 54 names of people who did not live in the constituency were listed on the voters’ roll.
Kanime’s ‘special leave’ lasted until his term of office ended September 2008. It was his second five-year contract as ECN Director. Shortly afterwards he resigned as Swapo party member and joined the RDP.
In November 2007 already, the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) had called on Kanime to resign as Elections Director because of what they called his “dubious conduct” in registering the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) as a political party.

It’s official: 51,2% of workforce jobless in Namibia

It’s official: 51,2% of workforce jobless

By: JO-MARÉ DUDDY

GOVERNMENT has finally, after keeping the figures under wrap for about a year, admitted that unemployment in Namibia is “unacceptably high” at 51,2 per cent.

Releasing the Namibia Labour Force Survey (NLFS) 2008 yesterday, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko said “there should be no doubt about the accuracy of the 51,2 per cent of unemployment in Namibia”.
Out of the 1,1 million Namibians 15 years and older in 2008, only 331 444 or about 30 per cent worked.
A total of 347 237 were unemployed, meaning they couldn't find work or they stopped looking for jobs.
According to the latest survey 428 173 people were “economically inactive” two years ago.
They included the retired, disabled or sick, homemakers and students.
Officially 58,4 per cent of Namibia's female labour force, and 43,5 per cent of the male work force, was jobless.
In rural Namibia, 46,6 per cent of the workforce was unemployed – 52,8 per cent of women and 41 per cent of men.
The picture looked slightly better in urban areas with total unemployment of 30,6 per cent.
Of this, 35,7 per cent of the female urban workforce was stuck without work, while 25,8 per cent of males were jobless.
Nearly 60 per cent of the country's workforce between 15 and 34 years was unemployed – 66,8 per cent of women in this category had no work, while 41,6 per cent of men were jobless.
Omusati had the highest unemployment rate, at 78,6 per cent, in the country.
Officially 81,2 per cent of women and 75,2 per cent of men in the region were without work. Nearly 82 per cent of the youth, aged 15 to 34, was jobless.
Ohangwena had an unemployment rate of 76,4 per cent. Nearly 84 per cent of the region's youth was unemployed.
Unemployment in the other regions was Kavango (70 per cent; youth 76,9 per cent), Oshikoto (68,6 per cent; youth 71,9 per cent), Caprivi (65,6 per cent; youth 75,7 per cent), Kunene (50,4 per cent; youth 55,2 per cent), Oshana (48,8 per cent; youth 56,2 per cent), Omaheke (48,2 per cent; youth 60,3 per cent), Otjozondjupa (43,8 per cent; youth 50,5 per cent), Hardap (38,6 per cent; 49,9 per cent), Khomas (33,5 per cent; youth 43,6 per cent), Erongo (32,6 per cent; youth 42,7 per cent) and Karas (36,4 per cent; youth 49,1 per cent).
The official release came as the National Planning Commission (NPC) prepares to host the country's first employment creation summit on Thursday.
Ngatjizeko could give no indication of official targets to combat unemployment except to say that it is not just Government's problem.
“The Government, employers, unions and everybody in Namibia should use this figure and find strategies to reverse this current unemployment situation in the country. The responsibility of employment creation lies with every able person residing in Namibia,” the Minister said.
Ngatjizeko said the “drastic fall” in employment figures was mainly due to the agricultural sector.
“A number of seasonal and weather related factors, coupled with falling international market prices for agricultural produce, and other primary commodities, might have contributed to these high figures in [the] agricultural sector,” he said.
Another culprit was the closure of a number of mines and manufacturing companies, he said. Ngatjizeko also blamed the 2008 global financial crisis, as well as global warming, for hurting subsistence activities and “eventually impacted on the reduction in informal employment in that sector”.
Asked why Government stalled with the release of the report, Ngatjizeko said the actual process took time, and then the results had to be verified.
The Namibian already revealed the contents of a leaked copy of the NLFS in February. It showed that Ngatjizeko signed the report last September.

Disgraced editor and scoundrel journalist, Max Hamata is at it again.

The Independent Newspaper Namibia Reports -

Disgraced editor and scoundrel journalist, Max Hamata is at it again.
May 25th 2012

By Eniotna Kobm

Convicted of defamation of Character by a case brought against him by former Windhoek Mayor Shikongo, disgraced former editor of Informante Newspaper, Max Hamata is at it again, this time through a dubious gossip tabloid named Confidente.
Based on a string of past and pending defamatory law suits against him, death threats for spreading lies, it could be deduced that Max Hamata is arguably the most unethical and hated journalist in Namibia; a title allegedly well deserved according to professional media practitioners who asked for anonymity. Max Hamata has allegedly launched his own newspaper, a dubious gossip tabloid called Confidente, it seems a continuation of “weak and bad journalism with the potential to undermining democratic debate and development” as PhD-fellow in political science and researcher, Alfredo Tjiurimo Hengari, put it in a piece titled Namibia’s Media Landscape is Stuck in Stone Age, published in the Namibian on November 25th 2011. The article analysed the Namibian Media landscape made up of an important number of unqualified journalists and unethical media practitioners.
Max Hamata’s alleged unprincipled journalism led to his forced resignation from the weekly tabloid Informante after he published a story headlined ‘Founding Father flown to Cape Town as prostate cancer spreads’ an article now widely seen as appalling and abuse of Namibia’s freedom of expression and a disrespectful exploitable of information targeting a National Hero and Founding President of a free Namibian nation. This story caused anxiety in many circles, notably amongst the SWAPO ruling party loyalists, who considered the story malicious and factually incorrect, undeniably libellous. Despite the fact that Dr Nujoma’s legal representative demanded an unconditional retraction of the factually wrong story, Hamata in his malicious objective countered with an editorial defending his fabricated news story. Dr Nujoma, it later emerged, was in Henties Bay where he held meetings with business personalities, and Swapo party members in the area, at the time the Informanté story falsely claimed he was in a Cape Town hospital in a critical condition. After the publication of the ‘Dr Nujoma story’ his personal physician Dr Tshali Iithete dismissed speculation that the founding president is seriously ill. “I would like to reassure the public that he is healthy and did not travel to Cape Town as reported.” He further stated that; “I am encouraging responsible journalists and reporters to verify facts with the relevant authorities before reporting,” Dr Iithete wrote, adding that the former Head of State is ‘physically well and healthy’. Minister of Information and Communications Technology Joel Kaapanda also condemned the report, which he described as an invasion of privacy.
The notorious journalist Max Hamata and his publications are well known in the Namibian media landscape for writing anything to capture a reader’s attention and make money at the expense of individuals’ rights in the disguised name of freedom of expression. Thousands of people have suffered defamatory attacks in the media as a result of what had been alleged to be mercenary journalism; that is writing an article to ruin a person’s reputable in exchange for money. Confidente is an instrument that will have Max Hamata continue his deeds and practice of Trash Journalism which in its true definition, spreads false or misleading stories for a variety of reasons by newspapers such as Informante (in the case of Mayor Shikongo and the Nujoma Story) and Confidente (in the case of Freddy Situmbeko’s Cash Money scratch cards falsely reported to be owned by entrepreneur Mr. Mbok and a follow up article falsely claiming rebranding misleading the public to believe Cash Money and Easy Cash are one in the same) and to make money is not always the only reason. Many journalists take delight in spreading fear, hysteria, or crackpot theories but the motivations can be many and varied and sometimes just the desire to ruin someone else's life is enough motivation.
Since his departure from Informante there is an improved quality, fairness and balance in the articles published.
We have reliably learned Max Hamata’s Confidente newspaper barely entering the market is already facing several pending defamation suits. Namibia’s freedom of speech is violated by journalists without scruples and any attempt to rein in a scoundrel journalist is seen as an attempt at Namibia’s constitutional right to Freedom of speech. Should the deliberate publishing of a false story be criminalised? Many citizens feel that those making money from writing unverified and false stories should be locked up, as it is a crime to spread false information.
Confidente’s owner and editor Max Hamata does not seem to fear the law or respect individual’s constitutional rights, arrested in June 2007 for alcohol abuse, driving under the influence of alcohol, this notorious journalist’s legal woes do not seem to have any effect on him. Perhaps he feels untouchable; in an online article published on 28th of June 2011, by MISA (Media Institute of Southern Africa) titled “Max Hamata’s chickens come home to roost”, the article summarizes the embattled, notorious journalist’s woes that led to his constructive sacking from Trustco Media.

Now in control of his own newspaper, it is business as usual at Confidente.

Southern African Xenophobia is un-African

By John Ekongo

The recent burst of xenophobic-related violence south of the Namibian border is a rude awakening on how xenophobia can quickly translate itself into a major catastrophe. The spate of attacks against foreign nationals in South African townships has sent shockwaves throughout the country and the continent, and has dealt a serious blow on Southern Africa, often described as a haven of tolerance and acceptance of other cultures because of the region’s nationalism liberation history.

The attacks, which originated in the township of Alexandria, an impoverished suburb in the city of Johannesburg, have left an estimated 42 foreign nationals dead. With globalization and the ever-increasing awareness of cultural and global integration, chances are that more contact with people of various cultures and nationalities becomes unavoidable.

This contact is made possible through an influx of people into neighboring countries for reasons like seeking economic opportunities and political turmoil. In some countries nationals view such foreigners as a threat and in direct competition for jobs and living space with the poorest of citizens.

Bishop Zephania Kameeta of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN) warns on what xenophobia can do to a society and comments on the South African situation. “We cannot condone and take things for granted and think that peace will always be with us,” said Kameeta.

The clergyman stressed that governments in Southern Africa must continuously address the issues of peace and violence and warns people against violence. But most of all “we must not only be seen talking but also act to uplift our people as not resort to this kind of attitude,” said the Kameeta.

As for the ongoing South African crisis, he said that it is a “bad situation for Southern Africa, we must remember that the then South African government bombed capitals of our fellow African countries, because they harbored us and they died because of us and now we are attacking them,” announced Kameeta.

He added, “We cannot afford to forget it is not so long ago that we returned from exile and not that they had a lot of money, but they saw us as fellow Africans suffering and they accommodated us. And we were not attacked. It is a very shameful situation. We hope that it will be contained as soon as possible.”

Zimbabwean arts and craft seller, Good Bopoto, said Namibians are hospitable people even though there are pockets of those who are xenophobic. “So far we have not received any ill-treatment and this is how it should be done. We appreciate what our Namibian brothers are doing, this kind of thing is reciprocal, given our histories,” pointed out Bopoto.

Although xenophobia is not a big issue in Namibia, Namibians cannot, however, pretend to be immune to this heart-wrenching phenomenon, according to experts New Era spoke to.

“Oh yes, Namibians are xenophobic, we are xenophobic from a cultural point of view,” said National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) Director, Phil ya Nangoloh.

He pointed out that in Namibia a perception is created that we are superior to anybody who is a foreigner and as such, “we tend to act unbecomingly towards them – more like a-them-against-us mentality”.

Ya Nangoloh maintained that this problem is particularly rampant in South Africa and Namibia. While ya Nangoloh admits that Namibians are xenophobic, he says of late a xenophobic attitude against Chinese nationals has been brewing and he has expressed his worries over the development.

“There is an anti-Chinese sentiment of late in SADC, we have heard of Uganda, Zambia, Namibia and even the issue of maltreatment of laborers by Chinese nationals.” He is of the opinion that the issue of economic survival is likely to be the biggest contributor to xenophobic sentiments.

This, ya Nangoloh maintain, puts Namibia at the threshold of a South African style revolt against Chinese nationalists. Chinese sticking to their reputation as adaptable working people, some according to NSHR have found themselves eking out a living in the informal and micro business sector, an area of economic opportunities always reserved for the poor.

Ya Nangoloh believes this can only be redressed if Government puts mechanisms in place to limit the participation of Chinese nationals in small and medium entrepreneurial activity. “A balanced approach needs to be in place to protect small businesses from an influx of Chinese nationals. This sudden influx of Chinese nationals and allowing them to engage in micro activities might create the impression that Namibians are overshadowed in what could have been their domain for economic survival,” said ya Nangoloh.

On this score, Professor Yang Ganfu, a resident expert on intercultural communication agrees that the Government must regulate certain business activities, in order to safeguard the survival of the poor. What he did not agree with, however, was the growing anti-Chinese sentiments.

“It is not a good issue and it must not be acceptable. Namibia is young and this hampers economic development of any country,” revealed Yang.

Yang opines that in as much as foreigners are not in their own country, they too contribute just as much to the upliftment of this country. “Chinese nationals create employment, they pay taxes like all other Namibians, and they also improve the infrastructure of the country.”

He took a swipe at what he described as a political driven propaganda against China, spearheaded by civil societies.

Instead of focusing on socio-economic upliftment, they are chanting democracy. “There is nothing wrong for a country to be democratic; the civil societies must focus on economic development, with this in place everything can fit in peacefully,” said Yang.

“When you are hungry and with no work how can you focus on democracy? First, you need economic development then prosperity and sustenance to participate fully in accordance with the democratic principles of your country. You can’t be democratic on an empty stomach,” said Yang.

Unemployment is very high among the youth. Government statistics indicate that 35 percent of youths in the 15-24-age bracket are unemployed.

Furthermore, labor researchers are saying that youths are three-and-a-half times more likely to be unemployed than adults.

Head of Department of Public Management at the Polytechnic of Namibia, Dr. Andrew Niikondo, says that it is worrisome. He highlighted that the South African example can easily be manifested in Namibia, seeing that those perpetrating the violence in South Africa are unemployed youths who have a growing resentment towards their Government’s inability to create jobs.

According to Niikondo, escalating cost of living, coupled with unemployment and fewer economic opportunities, could have been the trigger of violence in neighboring South Africa.

He stressed that given xenophobic attitudes in Namibia being more rampant and widespread among the youth, he fears that these tendencies in young Namibians can result in violence as well.

“Xenophobia is in Namibia but this is especially among the youth. The people that come from an era of liberation struggle are less xenophobic because they know the pain of being a host of someone.”

Dr. Niikondo, continues, “Among the youth it is difficult to convince young people not to adopt a xenophobic mindset, because they only know the current situation. They cannot lay claim to any other society other than that of being Namibian, that is what they have grown up with,” said Niikondo.

Niikondo, whose recent doctoral thesis addresses migration in Southern Africa, maintains that the obstacle in rooting out xenophobia lies in the continent’s inability to move towards an African unity.

“We speak one voice, but we act different. When at conferences we speak Southern Africa or Pan-Africanism, but when we are back home it becomes an issue of us and them.”

The scholar is of the opinion that Government policy on immigrants should be harmonized and this should be translated to a continental level. He cited an example of a recent agreement signed between Zambia and Zimbabwe to respect the right of citizens and ensuring protection to both nationals whether in Zimbabwe or Zambia.

As to whether it will address the mindset of xenophobic inclined individuals, Niikondo opines that it will call for education and informing people “xenophobia is a disease and a crime against humanity, if it goes to an extent where people are killing each other”. It should not happen, it is wrong, concluded the academic.

Foot notes: *Source: New Era online, Friday, May 23 2008

Xenophobia in Namibia

http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=28&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=74758&no_cache=1

Xenophobia exists in Namibia

WINDHOEK – Namibians are xenophobic towards fellow Africans, research carried out by the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) has revealed.

The fellow Africans singled out are from Angola, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, said the report issued during a Refugee, Asylum-Seekers and Economic Migrants’ Project stakeholders’ meeting held on Thursday.
The purpose of the research was to investigate incidents and levels of xenophobia in four SADC countries, namely Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa.
It aimed to establish the existence and levels of xenophobia and seriousness of xenophobic threats, tendencies and attacks towards foreigners in those countries.
The report found that the most affected groups in Namibia are economic migrants, foreign students as well as refugees, especially Arabs and Asians, more specifically Chinese.
Hatred towards Chinese people is partly rooted in the unfair way they treat their employees, especially when it comes to the payment of wages.
“They have a tendency of selling faulty goods, and not returning a person’s money upon return of the faulty item to the shop. Arabs, in particular Egyptians, have tendencies of spitting everywhere, as well as raising their voices anywhere and everywhere,” said the report.
It added that Arabs also tend to go to the University of Namibia (Unam) and elsewhere to sell paintings, and this negatively affects the local visual arts industry.
– Nampa