David Junias 

One identifies two sides in Namibia, the government and the people. The government comprises bureaucratic entities such as NamRA. The people embody citizens without an identity of bureaucratic power – as  famously implied by government legislatures that everyone is the government. 

Is that even true?

A government, in practicality, embodies all and sundry exerting power. 

If all and sundry cannot exert power, the inclusive term of government should be forgotten.

Healthy relationships between the people and the government are crucial for societal development.

A bitter relationship between the two is destructive to societal development. 

There is no need to remind any Namibian of the so-so relationship between the government and the people.

The NamRA-Chinatown saga devalues the government to people’s relationships. 

NamRA ordained the burning of the counterfeited imported goods belonging to the masses. The goods valued a fortune, though!

The people, as sometimes termed the masses in this section, took justice into their hands and the majority supported the chaotic retaliations against NamRA. The chaotic retaliations centred on individuals under duress closing the “Chinatown”.

Per se, Chinatown houses a mess of Chinese shops selling counterfeited goods. 

Contradiction stirred up when the counterfeited goods sold in Chinatown remained untouched by NamRA.

On the right hand, NamRA ordained the burning of counterfeited goods of the people. 

On the left hand, the people retaliated with utmost rage against NamRA’s deeds resulting in individuals’ incarceration.

Societal development, inclusive of the two sides, the government and the people remain a cat and mouse team when social extremes such as burning people’s goods – even though counterfeited – and closing businesses under duress are embraced.

Burning people’s counterfeited goods was extreme in its course. Closing Chinatown was extreme.

It is unexpected to take justice under duress. Similar to a parent exerting corporal punishment on a child after trespassing, the child retaliates with a fight.

Societal upheavals of this kind slow down societal development. It prompts pitiable relationships between the government and the people.

The people and the government need to work together for progressive societal development. The government should refrain from extreme resolutions. The people should eradicate extreme retaliations.

The basics of solving a problem embody solutions. The NamRA/Chinatown fad derives from solving problems with an additional problem, which leads to severe problems in the course.

 People’s retaliations extended the course, prompting incarcerations and police to people’s violence.

* David Junias holds an Honors degree in Business Management from the Namibia

University of Science and Technology. - davidjunias@gmail.com