Kuvee Kangueehi SWAPO MP Peya Mushelenga sometime this week introduced a motion on the state of the nation’s morality with regard to respect of elders and the social obligation towards them by younger members of their families. I personally welcome the motion and believe it is timely, given recent events that have been reported in the media and in crime bulletins. The incident of a young man who chopped his grandmother with a panga when she refused to give him some of her pension money comes to mind. Of course, at face value, today’s generation is to blame for most of the unruly and immoral behaviour we witness today. I fully agree that the youth of today are to blame for the decay in the moral fabric of the society, but I equally believe that our elders have somewhere failed to guide them on the right path. I think today’s youth are like a herd of sheep with no Shepherd. Because of various reasons such as stress at work, long working hours and difficult economic conditions, parents simply do not find the time to spend time with their children and leave the responsibility of raising their own children in the hands of teachers. I was shocked last week when my six-year-old niece told her mother straight to her face that she was not going to wash the dishes. My sister without further effort conceded that her daughter was not going to wash the dishes. I was left to wonder how a teacher could possibly instill discipline in a child if the mother gives up. How and when will this child learn that it is inappropriate to refuse instructions from an elder and own parent for that matter? I think although refusal to wash dishes does not translate into one killing one’s own parent with a panga, such refusal to obey an order translates into disrespect and if you respect your parents or any other person for that matter, you possibly will never attack him with a panga. I think parents should assume the responsibility of parenthood and not shift that to the nannies or teachers and ultimately the police. Parents should find time to speak, guide, advise and know their children. Of course this is not the ultimate solution but if every child can have a decent upbringing, that can possibly make a difference. If we have children with a decent upbringing at pre-school, we will have better behaved children at primary, high school, university and ultimately in society. Eewa!