Does Article 10 still hold water?

Reading Article 10 of the Namibian Constitution has led me to ask several questions whose answers I am still in need of. More often than not, I have wondered whether this is just a well-written work on paper that falls within the legal framework of the government or, does it stand for, and serve the purpose of equality… or is that too far-fetched? We may be in post-colonial times but racism and inequality in Namibia still remain an ugly truth that we don’t want to face. One evening, during one of my usual daily routines to and from my boarding house, I met two high school pupils probably from Academia High. A white boy and a black girl who both seemed to be in their mid-teens. They were in an argument that almost erupted into a fierce fight. As they argued, a City Police patrol vehicle passed by and the white child lamented to the black one that he would report her to the police. That statement only steered me to several questions: Why the white child found it so easy to report such a petty issue to the police and why despite of his “superior sex” it was still that easy for him to think of reporting the girl.Well, it would not be apt and furthermore, it is not my intent to bore you with what may sound like personal rhetoric… after the argument had died down, I asked the young boy what the girl had done to him to deserve police attention. The boy answered - with a lot of innocence in his tone - that there wasn’t anything major, but his mom had told him that black kids are barbaric and could injure him so he had to report them quickly. At this point, I realised that the seeds of inequality and racism are still steadily germinating, are well-nurtured and, before we realise it, these seeds would be alive and green - to our dismay. Am not doing the holier than thou claim, because we all are sinners and more often than not, fall short of the glory of God.However, as we go about our day-to-day undertakings, it is absolutely essential to keep ourselves reminded of our basic faith, and our values and teachings. Biblically, we all know that man is the only creature that was created in the Creator’s image, irrespective of creed, race or whatever; we are all a representation of one image – that of God.Why then in a land so beautiful and peaceful like ours, and above all independent, should we still find schools that are considered to be “white” schools? As a student in the field of public management, I have not been afforded an oppportunity to avoid a critical look at this because definitely a black parent may not find it easy to take their child to a “white school”. Brethren, have you ever asked yourself questions like why it is easy for a white person to walk in a self-service shop, grab a bottle of coke from the fridge drink and the shop staff are assured that he/she will pay for that drink. But a black person will be maximally monitored during his time in the shop to see if he/she will pay. Or why in Windhoek, 26 years after our independence are there still white and black neighborhoods. Why is Wernhil considered to be a black person’s shopping centre? Why do most whites prefer seeing black doctors to white ones. Why after 26 years of independence are there still schools offering lessons in Afrikaans and English strictly and not considering other indigenous local languages? The inferiority contest is being won by whites every single day. Blacks do not trust each other. Africa, we shall not pretend like we are the same at the hands of society, because whilst we think and keep saying we are equal, we treat one and each other differently. This is socially unhealthy because as long as we try to compromise facts and try to live with assumptions of a better Namibia, racism is dividing us each and every single day. This tears down on our collective effort to work towards a common goal and to create a good society. We might never see our full development potential if others are considered inferior to some. And until something is done to reframe our perception and positioning of one another, Article 10 of the Namibian constitution remains just a well-written piece of paper which will forever be unimplemented.*Jack Muyambango is a second-year student studying towards a Bachelor of Public Management at the University of Namibia.

Does Article 10 still hold water?

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-04

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Does Article 10 still hold water?

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-04

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