The winds of change are looming
In today's age, the decisions of the majority always win. The decisions made by the minority are not always protected. Following the masses seems to be the norm, even if they may be absolutely wrong in their ideas. The ideology that if you do not follow the voices that “bear some truth” then you, in your own capacity do not know what you are talking about. A case in point is the teacher's strike that was taking place in Namibia.
I feel teachers deserved the 8% increment they were demanding for. After all, teachers are the backbone of the future leaders of Namibia. It's not surprising that the majority of the youth in Namibia supported the teachers as well. But I do not believe that the government should meet their demands at this current point, considering the financial implications for the economy of the country. The problem in this day and age is that Namibia is ridden with the concept of “survival of the fittest”. What this means is that people generally seek to fill their own pockets, and sometimes at the expense of others. The teachers chose to strike at an unprecedented time, considering that students were in the midst of their end of year examinations. However, in as much as this was an unprecedented time, the government should at no point have used propaganda to halt the strike. The thought of our leaders pointing out that if teachers manage to obtain this 8% increment then the nurses and other public servants will come out and propose their own demands is astounding.
We are all aware that the financial crisis did not start with President Hage Geingob, in fact, Namibia was already in financial turmoil when President Hage Geingob came into office. But being the president, its best to assume that he knew about this long before he stepped foot into the State House. How else can one take up the duties and office without knowing all the facts and status quo that are both made known to any leader that takes office. The problem we are faced with is that the citizens are left to take all these facts into consideration, and try their utmost best to understand why the government is not at the capacity to meet their demands. Yet, the ministers are awarded with salary increments on top of already substantive high salaries. The one point that I fail to understand, something that irks me, is the appointment of two deputy ministers with elusive job descriptions. However, that is another topic on its own.
The point that I am trying to bring across is that the people that are in positions of power and even fellow youths that have the capacity to create change should learn how to use their voice for the good, the bad, and the transmission of correct, propaganda-free information. The youth of today are more curious and ask more questions about issues that are affecting the country and their communities. We as leaders should understand that teachers need the money and also understand that the same teachers that are striking now, are part of the civil servants that received a 5% increment a couple of years ago, and if these same teachers receive this 8% increment then the government will have to pay them back pay from about April this year which is about plus/minus N$600 million. People may doubt what the significance of N$600 million is to a government that wanted to spend that on an even more costly parliament to accommodate a handful of people.
One thing that troubles one is that with the youth of Namibia, there is a handful that truly out there wants to create change and be that change, whereas a significant number of the youth simply want the government to provide for them. We should move away from the principle of handouts and try our utmost best to build ourselves and grow each other. Call out the government when they do wrong or when they simply are not doing anything but do not make everything an issue without obtaining the necessary facts and information first. Challenge the leaders, but do it in a respectful manner. Let us move away from the concept of ridiculing people because they do not support your statements, or do not conform to the same ideology as yours. We all passionate about something, so let that speak true. Create an image of your own instead of creating an idealistic image out of someone else.
As for the government, uphold a standard of accountability and transparency. Do not try and bypass the system because the youth are watching, and will continue to ask questions. Do not foster a system of threats and tarnishing the good name of your citizens. The people are awake, they can see what they could not see before and they need their voices not to fall on deaf ears.
*Lineekela Hamutumwa is fourth-year student studying towards a Bachelor's degree in Media and Political studies at the University of Namibia.
I feel teachers deserved the 8% increment they were demanding for. After all, teachers are the backbone of the future leaders of Namibia. It's not surprising that the majority of the youth in Namibia supported the teachers as well. But I do not believe that the government should meet their demands at this current point, considering the financial implications for the economy of the country. The problem in this day and age is that Namibia is ridden with the concept of “survival of the fittest”. What this means is that people generally seek to fill their own pockets, and sometimes at the expense of others. The teachers chose to strike at an unprecedented time, considering that students were in the midst of their end of year examinations. However, in as much as this was an unprecedented time, the government should at no point have used propaganda to halt the strike. The thought of our leaders pointing out that if teachers manage to obtain this 8% increment then the nurses and other public servants will come out and propose their own demands is astounding.
We are all aware that the financial crisis did not start with President Hage Geingob, in fact, Namibia was already in financial turmoil when President Hage Geingob came into office. But being the president, its best to assume that he knew about this long before he stepped foot into the State House. How else can one take up the duties and office without knowing all the facts and status quo that are both made known to any leader that takes office. The problem we are faced with is that the citizens are left to take all these facts into consideration, and try their utmost best to understand why the government is not at the capacity to meet their demands. Yet, the ministers are awarded with salary increments on top of already substantive high salaries. The one point that I fail to understand, something that irks me, is the appointment of two deputy ministers with elusive job descriptions. However, that is another topic on its own.
The point that I am trying to bring across is that the people that are in positions of power and even fellow youths that have the capacity to create change should learn how to use their voice for the good, the bad, and the transmission of correct, propaganda-free information. The youth of today are more curious and ask more questions about issues that are affecting the country and their communities. We as leaders should understand that teachers need the money and also understand that the same teachers that are striking now, are part of the civil servants that received a 5% increment a couple of years ago, and if these same teachers receive this 8% increment then the government will have to pay them back pay from about April this year which is about plus/minus N$600 million. People may doubt what the significance of N$600 million is to a government that wanted to spend that on an even more costly parliament to accommodate a handful of people.
One thing that troubles one is that with the youth of Namibia, there is a handful that truly out there wants to create change and be that change, whereas a significant number of the youth simply want the government to provide for them. We should move away from the principle of handouts and try our utmost best to build ourselves and grow each other. Call out the government when they do wrong or when they simply are not doing anything but do not make everything an issue without obtaining the necessary facts and information first. Challenge the leaders, but do it in a respectful manner. Let us move away from the concept of ridiculing people because they do not support your statements, or do not conform to the same ideology as yours. We all passionate about something, so let that speak true. Create an image of your own instead of creating an idealistic image out of someone else.
As for the government, uphold a standard of accountability and transparency. Do not try and bypass the system because the youth are watching, and will continue to ask questions. Do not foster a system of threats and tarnishing the good name of your citizens. The people are awake, they can see what they could not see before and they need their voices not to fall on deaf ears.
*Lineekela Hamutumwa is fourth-year student studying towards a Bachelor's degree in Media and Political studies at the University of Namibia.
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