By Dr Ngarikutuke Tjiriange
THIS opinion deals with the situation in Kunene were the government intends to build a mega dam. However, before I address the issue of the dam let me start with the essence of democracy in carrying out such projects in the country. The Swapo government came to power through a democratic choice of the people of this country. Once it won the elections and came into power it became imperative to rule the whole country and exercise its power over each and every citizen of the country no matter whether some of the people did not vote for it. At the same time it became important to listen and take into consideration views and opinions of all the people no matter whether such people voted for Swapo or not. Sometimes these views and opinions are contrary to the aims and objectives of Swapo, but be that as it may, the people’s government has to convince the concerned people that their views and opinions are not in the interest of the country and its citizens. Engaging and involving people of different interest and opinions on issues of importance to the country and its citizens, is part of the democratic process in a country that is governed through true democratic principles. Hopefully we can reach consensus sooner on important national issues. Unfortunately, sometimes it becomes impossible to reach such consensus or it takes too long to do so, particularly when the negative attitudes towards the intentions of the government are driven or promoted by self-centered and selfish political and economic motives of some people who are against the government. Sometimes some people just oppose and disapprove whatever the government is intending to do even if what the government wants to achieve is in the broader interest of the country and its people. As much as this negative resistance to the programmes and projects of the government sometimes may be prompted either by political or economic interests of few people there are common motives to these. Both are based on selfish and unpatriotic considerations of those few people. It may be necessary to elaborate on what I mean by selfish political and economic motives. Political Motive: Some people think that if the government of the day succeeds in doing what it intends to achieve the people who will benefit from such projects and programmes will back and support the government and that will cut into their political support and make them politically irrelevant and weak. That is notwithstanding the fact that such programmes and projects that the government wants to put in place are indeed economically and politically important and beneficial to the progress and development of the whole country and its people.
Economic Motives: Some of those who have businesses along the river in the Kunene Region are more concerned with their own profits and pleasure at the expense of the wellbeing and economic progress of the masses of our people. After all, their businesses are flourishing and maintained by tourists and indeed such profits are not always benefiting or shared with the local people, therefore, it does not matter to them if the local population remains in abject poverty. Some also reject and are opposed to the developmental programmes of the government no matter that such programmes are intended to bring meaningful development to the area. Some are even not very eager to have the people in the area develop and start living a modern life and would rather prefer a situation whereby the people in that area remain traditionally as they now are and always be ‘living museums’ to attract their tourist customers.
One such project is the mega dam, which the government is intending to build in the Kunene Region. Many believe that building, for example, a big dam in the area will result in closure of their private lodges since the area will be inundated with water therefore such a project must be opposed. That is notwithstanding the fact that the dam is indeed necessary and important to many people in the area. It is a fact that many towns and places in Namibia are supplied with water from dams, Windhoek included. Therefore there is no doubt that the dam which the government intends to build in the Kunene Region will supply much needed water to many places in that region and maybe even beyond that region and greatly alleviate the suffering of the people, thus improving the living standards and lives of our citizens. In addition to supplying much needed water for people’s consumption the dam can promote economic growth, create jobs, enhance agricultural production and electric power supply thus changing the area through much needed economic development there which will have a positive impact on the lives of the people. Unfortunately, some people are opposed to the building of this very important dam and are trying very hard to frustrate the efforts of the government in building such a dam in that region. Those who are opposed to the projects of the government for the abovementioned reasons are instigating local people, particularly some traditional leaders, to spearhead this process of objection. This is intended to create the impression that the inhabitants of the region are the ones who are opposing the project. Innocent people are being confused and encouraged to act against their own interest in the process, not understanding that what they are doing is counterproductive and is not good for their future livelihood and the progressive development of the country. As much as the government has not and is not intending to abandon the project this kind of attitude based mostly on selfish, politically and financially motivated resistance of some people who have their hidden agendas and ulterior motives is delaying the construction of the dam, which is so important for our country. The government could have just ignored those who are opposing this project and gone ahead with its building. However, being a people’s government, which is promoting the democratic rights of its citizens it is trying first to democratically impress and convince those who are opposing the project that the project is absolutely necessary before it can go out of its way to build this very important dam. This democratic process is being abused and as a result it is taking too long and in the mean time some villages are forced to resort to using unhygienic ways of getting water for their consumption, which could have been prevented by the construction of the mega dam. Some people may argue that there are other ways and options of getting water. However, that being as it may, the option of a mega dam is still on the table and is more viable and important and can solve many problems before we can resort to other options, which as much as they are important are less viable than the building of the mega dam. But surely, soon or later the government may be forced to say enough is enough and put its foot down and go ahead with the building of the very important dam. Let us remember that the building of this dam was perceived a long time ago and it is now even overtaken by the building of the dam in the south of the country. The annoying thing is that the same people who are instigating people to reject the programmes of the government are the ones who are the first to make noises that the government is not doing anything. This democratic process of consultation is taking too long and the region in the meantime is negatively affected by severe drought and resultant food and water shortages. People have resorted to drinking unclean water due to the drought, which could have been avoided in many places if the dam was in place. Most of the water of the river is also originating from Angola and could have kept the dam full during the drought and solved the problem of people who are now resorting to drinking unclean water and are infected by the bacterium known as Vibrio Cholerae. One can say more about this tragic situation, but suffice it to say that we all, as Namibians, must first and foremost be patriotic and stop throwing spanners in the wheels of the government for our own selfish interests.
Where the intentions of the government are good and for the benefit of the country and its people we all, irrespective of our own interests and political differences, must support what is best for the country, that is the essence of patriotism which is needed from all of us. It does not matter which government is in power at a given time the most important thing is that the interests of the country and the wellbeing of its people should be the determining factor in the political and economic compass, intentions, directions and programmes of a progressive political party and its government and it is incumbent upon all patriotic Namibians to have the interests of the country at heart.