The wrong side of history
13 January 2020 | Opinion
We live in a world where children starve while there is enough food to feed us all.
We live in a world where trillions are spent on arming nations and dealing in warfare while citizens lack the basic necessities to live fruitful and rewarding lives.
We live in a world where politicians play us like pieces on a chessboard and power-plays for more wealth consume boardrooms and cabinet chambers of so-called first world nations and others.
We live in a world where members of former liberation movements spend their time on the accumulation of meagre personal scraps, while selling their countries’ resources.
Instead of using their hard-earned global collateral to wage a struggle on behalf of developing nations, these movements have been beset by gross corruption.
We live in an information age, but we are more interested in gossip and playing voyeur into the lives of the so-called rich and famous.
The corrupt are admired for the things they possess, while a human tragedy of monumental proportions plays out across the world every day.
Proximity to political and financial power determines where you will end up in life, your status and how seriously your views are considered by the general body of ‘right-thinking people’.
In the Namibian context, three decades after liberation, we are still grappling with historical hangovers while a new elite layer of wealthy politicians rub properties, luxury vehicles and other assets in the faces of the poor.
Last year saw a dramatic turning point during the general election when ordinary Namibians sent a clear message that the status quo is not sustainable and political power can be fleeting if the interests of Namibians are not put first.
This year, on a local, regional, continental and global stage, those who are tasked with presenting us must do so with the sole intent of turning the tide against the insanity that continues to grip our planet, or risk being caught on the wrong side of history.
We live in a world where trillions are spent on arming nations and dealing in warfare while citizens lack the basic necessities to live fruitful and rewarding lives.
We live in a world where politicians play us like pieces on a chessboard and power-plays for more wealth consume boardrooms and cabinet chambers of so-called first world nations and others.
We live in a world where members of former liberation movements spend their time on the accumulation of meagre personal scraps, while selling their countries’ resources.
Instead of using their hard-earned global collateral to wage a struggle on behalf of developing nations, these movements have been beset by gross corruption.
We live in an information age, but we are more interested in gossip and playing voyeur into the lives of the so-called rich and famous.
The corrupt are admired for the things they possess, while a human tragedy of monumental proportions plays out across the world every day.
Proximity to political and financial power determines where you will end up in life, your status and how seriously your views are considered by the general body of ‘right-thinking people’.
In the Namibian context, three decades after liberation, we are still grappling with historical hangovers while a new elite layer of wealthy politicians rub properties, luxury vehicles and other assets in the faces of the poor.
Last year saw a dramatic turning point during the general election when ordinary Namibians sent a clear message that the status quo is not sustainable and political power can be fleeting if the interests of Namibians are not put first.
This year, on a local, regional, continental and global stage, those who are tasked with presenting us must do so with the sole intent of turning the tide against the insanity that continues to grip our planet, or risk being caught on the wrong side of history.
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