Independence Day has always been a momentous occasion in our country’s history and it will remain like that for many years to come. This year it will be an especially auspicious day, as we not only celebrate 30 years of freedom, but will also witness the inauguration of a new administration, including the swearing-in of President Hage Geingob for his second term as head of state. Namibia is definitely a better place than it was over 30 years ago when the institutionalisation of apartheid divided the country and its resources by race.
As a nation, we should never forget the sacrifices that were made to bring about independence to free Namibians from the yoke of apartheid and colonialisation.
To the founding fathers and mothers of our nation, we are indebted to them and we should never take these freedoms lightly. Indeed, they did not come easily. We should never take peace for granted, despite our many differences.
Namibia, at the end of the day, is the only place we can call home.
Our country should never go backwards. We all have the moral obligation to defend our hard-won democracy. Independence Day also provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the achievements that we have made as a nation. It is definitely not all doom and gloom. As Namibians we should be proud of some of our country’s achievements. However, serious challenges persist.
Like any other developing country Namibia is confronted by perennial problems in critical sectors of our economy such as education and public healthcare, among others. We still have high levels of inequality in society and serious challenges of unemployment, especially among the young people, which currently stands at a woeful 46%.
It is thus incumbent upon us as a nation to stand in solidarity with the downtrodden of our society and portray a caring attitude so that they can one day live dignified lives. We must all face the future and go forward as a nation.
Long live the Republic! ◆