Channelling dissent
There is a simmering anger among ordinary Namibians, who continue to feel powerless and frustrated.
Since independence, politicians who have been voted into power, after sweet-talking the electorate during the run-up to elections, have failed to keep their promises; or worse, they have used these positions of power to enrich themselves and their cabals.
Politicians in the ruling party must think they have access to a jackpot machine that pays out endless riches once they have twisted the arm of those who vote in the country's elections.
Given our dubious track record of holding those with their hands on the levers of power accountable, they believe they can siphon and steal, both directly or indirectly, and simply be voted in for a fresh round of plundering the next time the nation goes to the polls.
Namibians are simply seen as voting cattle, who will faithfully support these politicians, no matter what.
But at the rate we are going, there will soon be nothing left to steal.
The misguided attitude of our leaders appears to be that they are entitled to reap and harvest, simply because of what happened in the past, and their role in the liberation struggle.
It is always worthwhile remembering that the past is in the past, but the future is happening as we speak.
Dwelling on events from the past will not gain you anything, but allowing so-called past glories and struggles to affect your future, can have a massive impact on the outcome of our shared destinies.
Maybe we should start emulating our South Africa neighbours, where protests and civil disobedience have been the order of the day, but let us refrain from violence.
Relative calm appears to have returned to the streets of Mahikeng in South Africa's Northwest Province at the weekend, after residents revolted against premier Supra Mahumapelo.
Civil protests in Namibia are few and far in between and need to be used as a legitimate form of dissent against the powerful.
It is an effective way to focus attention on the dark corners of Namibia, where leaders merrily continue to abuse our country's resources with impunity, to the detriment of those at the very bottom of the social hierarchy.
Since independence, politicians who have been voted into power, after sweet-talking the electorate during the run-up to elections, have failed to keep their promises; or worse, they have used these positions of power to enrich themselves and their cabals.
Politicians in the ruling party must think they have access to a jackpot machine that pays out endless riches once they have twisted the arm of those who vote in the country's elections.
Given our dubious track record of holding those with their hands on the levers of power accountable, they believe they can siphon and steal, both directly or indirectly, and simply be voted in for a fresh round of plundering the next time the nation goes to the polls.
Namibians are simply seen as voting cattle, who will faithfully support these politicians, no matter what.
But at the rate we are going, there will soon be nothing left to steal.
The misguided attitude of our leaders appears to be that they are entitled to reap and harvest, simply because of what happened in the past, and their role in the liberation struggle.
It is always worthwhile remembering that the past is in the past, but the future is happening as we speak.
Dwelling on events from the past will not gain you anything, but allowing so-called past glories and struggles to affect your future, can have a massive impact on the outcome of our shared destinies.
Maybe we should start emulating our South Africa neighbours, where protests and civil disobedience have been the order of the day, but let us refrain from violence.
Relative calm appears to have returned to the streets of Mahikeng in South Africa's Northwest Province at the weekend, after residents revolted against premier Supra Mahumapelo.
Civil protests in Namibia are few and far in between and need to be used as a legitimate form of dissent against the powerful.
It is an effective way to focus attention on the dark corners of Namibia, where leaders merrily continue to abuse our country's resources with impunity, to the detriment of those at the very bottom of the social hierarchy.
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Namibian Sun
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