Quit singing songs of fake freefom
Whose freedom is the blood of those who perished in Cassinga watering? This is one in a myriad of questions we must ask ourselves as we pause to pay homage to the victims of that barbaric attack on a refugee camp in 1978.
For what freedom was their precious blood the ultimate price, and for who is this freedom reserved?
In a country with one of the world’s highest rates of inequality, how loud can we sing these songs of freedom?
When land, for which battles were fought and thousands of lives were lost, remains a rare commodity for the masses of our people, can we really sing freedom songs as a sign of victory?
We are incrementally forgetting why bitter wars were fought in pursuit of freedom. Instead of sober introspection, days like Cassinga are used as an opportunity for beach trips, backyard braais and bikini parties by the pool.
True, there was a time when braais and bikini parties were a privilege reserved for a few in Namibia – mostly those of foreign origins. But while enjoying these crumbs of freedom, let’s never forget the compelling duties for greater freedom - such as ensuring the masses of our people have access to the means of production.
That, or quit singing songs of the cosmetic freedom that many Namibians ‘enjoy’ today.
For what freedom was their precious blood the ultimate price, and for who is this freedom reserved?
In a country with one of the world’s highest rates of inequality, how loud can we sing these songs of freedom?
When land, for which battles were fought and thousands of lives were lost, remains a rare commodity for the masses of our people, can we really sing freedom songs as a sign of victory?
We are incrementally forgetting why bitter wars were fought in pursuit of freedom. Instead of sober introspection, days like Cassinga are used as an opportunity for beach trips, backyard braais and bikini parties by the pool.
True, there was a time when braais and bikini parties were a privilege reserved for a few in Namibia – mostly those of foreign origins. But while enjoying these crumbs of freedom, let’s never forget the compelling duties for greater freedom - such as ensuring the masses of our people have access to the means of production.
That, or quit singing songs of the cosmetic freedom that many Namibians ‘enjoy’ today.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article