As a young citizen of this country, called Namibia, it is indeed exciting news to read in the media that my president is expected to speak at the 26th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Ethiopia this weekend.
However, over the years such AU sessions have given this continent absolutely nothing to smile or talk about. Our ‘Excellencies’ are still paying lip service to the ideas of promoting a peaceful, prosperous and integrated continent simply to please the African people so they can vote for them in the next elections.
It is, however, interesting to hear that we (Namibians) are going there to also “mobilise resources for infrastructural development in Namibia as a catalyst in the war on poverty, job creation, and to transform Namibia”.
I tend to differ with this move, because I feel we don’t need to seek resources elsewhere to solve these petty issues. In fact, other African countries should come borrow from us.
I don’t even want to talk about Namibia’s GDP per person, which is currently said to stand at about N$93 000 – at the latest more depreciated exchange rate of 1USD = N$16.
Truth is that we have sufficient resources here at home from minerals and many other things. Yes, Namibia is rich in minerals, yet still poor. We have quantities of minerals that cannot be found anywhere else in the world and could use the wealth to build infrastructure, especially in the areas of water and energy, to fund free education etc., but instead we are addicted to borrowing rather than demanding that the mines give us such resources.
It is sad that the next generation will have to pay back such loans, yet they are taken to court for demanding free half access to tertiary education. One can guess what would happen to the students when they will demand free tertiary education.
We have already witnessed how the 14 regional NamPol commanders gathered in Otjiwarongo last year with fully paid accommodation and S&T allowance to plan how to deal with young people who were preparing to occupy unoccupied land on July 31, 2015.
Namibia and Africa, let us use our resources to benefit our people and better the lives of others and the generations to come, as God intended!
Egonga lya Iipumbu
Namibian Youth