Joseph Ndondi

We recount the contribution of youth in her growth and the significance of Independence Day to youth. We share a general perception that today’s youth are complacent and want to lead a carefree life, building their conventions and rules. We are accused that ‘we are not rooted to our culture’, and blindly ape the western culture.

But we are happy because we have many achievements to gloat over. We are carving out our niche in the global arena, whether it is by positing ourselves as a powerful emerging economy. Namibia is leaving its footprints for the world to follow.

We readily accept the blame that we are complacent towards our conventions and traditional norms, and perhaps our inability to strengthen community volunteerism. Because independence does not only mean our freedom from the South African Apartheid regime and cherishing our 32-year-old so-called “sovereignty” while watching the English Premier League on television. Independence includes a broader meaning. It means breaking and shattering all the old myths and notions that have crippled Namibia. It means that we break free from all the taboos that have kept us divided, and moving forward as a united nation.

As university students in the late 2010s “Fees Must Fall”,  we came out and protested on social media as a community against the Fishrot scandal, and we came together as a family when the residents of the Twaloloka informal settlement were in need, and did what we could to assist. We are unhesitant when it comes to gender issues, and the wasteful use of resources without heeding the sustainability of our environment. Young women are ready to break the old shackles to assert their rightful place in society. We burst into energy and celebration when Christine Mboma won a silver Olympic medal. the first since Frank Fredericks. When Dillish Mathews returned as a Big Brother Africa winner, our imaginations were expanded to the true possibilities of what we can do. We feel proud when youth realise their dreams and become icons for not only us Namibians to follow, but for the entire world. We feel proud when our diversity resonates internationally. We emulate simplicity when VVIPs like young Josephat Tjiho travel as a common man using our local transport. Fashion and class are refusing to be cowed down by social and economic boundaries, and ready to beat their own path at the Windhoek Fashion Week. Yes, we share the blame that we make our own rules. Because we want to bring to fruition the ideals and goals set by our freedom fighters of real liberty, equality and justice so that we can build an inclusive nation where nobody is marginalised from the respect, honour and fruits of growth of our country. We accept that Independence Day is a holiday for us, but surely the day when we can relax, introspect our achievements, celebrate and set our goals anew.

We are determined. We have the zeal to move forward and achieve our ambitions. It’s just that we live the way we like. After a day’s hard work, we chill out at a local disco/bar, where we are harassed for being morally corrupt. The youth are not corrupt, we are just building a strong nation. Such is the greatness of the Namibian youth that, unknowingly, we are adding to the richness and contributing to Namibia’s growth. And, ultimately, making Independence Day more meaningful to us. Although I will not negate the fact that drug abuse and crimes have become much more rampant among the youth, we have become more obsessed with materialism. And it’s lamentable that Namibia gets divided when our very own young representatives spread communal flames. Then we get morally ‘corrupted’.

But, we hope, that with stringent laws and nurturing by our guardians and parents, we can eliminate the rotten apples in the basket, and build the ‘Namibia of my dreams’.

* Joseph Ndondi is the executive director of Social Enabled Education (SEE) Namibia, a non-profit organisation.