ALLOW me this space to reflect back on the days of yesteryear when the great sons and daughters of Namibia stood united and courageously fought the tough battle against racism and apartheid instituted by the then white apartheid regime.
I recall the time when Oshiwambo-speaking men, mostly those who returned from their respective jobs, were barred from travelling freely and safely back to their homesteads in the northern regions to visit their families.
They were barricaded at Namutoni where they endured extreme racist remarks, physical violence (tearing of parts of their blouses and trousers and beatings), and ripping-off of their luxuries before being allowed to pass.
Also as a young man joined by fellow freedom fighters (Setty Kaukungwa, Kayupa Kamtotele, Hangula Kapitya, Assera Noladi, Olavy Nailenge and others) we used to burn down cattle camps built and controlled by the South African white administration in the “so-called” Owamboland areas.
I knew the northern roads very well and during the struggle travelled with fellow compatriots to transport children who came from all over the country to destinations as far as Angola and Zambia.
The new democracy in Namibia ushered in by the 1990 elections marked the beginning of a new social, economic and political discourse in the country, ending the apartheid era. Today, we are applauding those heroes and heroines, individuals like Comrades Toivo ya Toivo, the late Theofelus Mutumbangela and many others who were at the forefront in the formation of OPO (Owambo Peoples Organization) in 1959 from which the now ruling party SWAPO (South West Africa Peoples Organization) was born in 1960, and who persistently petitioned the United Nations for the abolishment of the migrant labour system and sovereignty of Namibia and her people from South African occupation.
Counting 17 years back since Namibia enjoyed its first independence where a democratically elected government came into being with a mandate to ensure the creation of a free and just society, one would still question the Government’s responsibility to honour, support and recognize all our freedom fighters who equally played a significant role in the liberation struggle of this country.
While a handful of people in Namibia are referred to as the “who’s who in politics of Namibia,” many who may as well be called “forgotten compatriots” have grown weary, with no employment, in ill health, stricken by poverty and with no identity in the history books or being able to reflect on their worthwhile contributions.
Whether they are intentionally forgotten or left to suffer their own demise, this needs to be explained to us the nation? If our Government advocates for fairness and justice, then let everyone in society benefit from that, instead of selected individuals who enjoy preferences from bestowed titles, huge salary perks, fishing quotas to farming lands, etc.
Therefore if we as Namibians want to strive further as one nation, we need to refrain from greediness and corrupt practices, political infightings for titles and distrust, and rather concentrate on honesty and integrity, hard work, respect and fairness and learn to share with others.
I briefly also wanted to touch on the issue about the education aspect of our children. We all know that education is a process of development which occurs in one’s life. Since corporal punishment was abolished from schools, children continue to become disobedient towards their parents and teachers: because they think they have the right to choose what is right for them without considering the consequences.
We as parents often lack other options to choose from or effective punishment when children misbehave. This results in children’s morals and discipline to decline, and consequently they turn to drunkenness, smoking, carrying unwanted pregnancies and becoming infected with HIV/AIDS and other related illnesses.
How can we as a society expect these children to adopt a normal adult life? At the end society suffers because our children are turned into gangs who rape, alcoholics and drug addicts, and people who steal and murder with no respect for their victims.
While it is not too late to lose our children to the evils of society, let us the communities stand together with our government and come up with a solution to this problem.
As a SWAPO member and supporter I used this space to air my personal views and opinions on issues of concern as a citizen. Let 2008 be a year of prosperity and good governance from our leaders.
May God bless you all!!
Yours in freedom
Comrade J. P. Katanga
Windhoek