Young professionals accuse the minister of not being patriotic.
Young professionals accuse the minister of not being patriotic.
The group responded to a statement issued by the minister of information and communication technology, Tjekero Tweya, this week in which he tried to explain the arrangement with Zimbabwean architects, quantity surveyors and engineers who have been attached to the works and transport ministry as a result of a memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries.
In response to the outrage from local professionals over this placement and a proposed exemption from registration with the Namibia Council of Architects and Quantity Surveyors for 29 Zimbabweans, Tweya in his statement also cautioned against xenophobia.
NASE fired back, saying Tweya's statement lacks patriotism but smacks of sarcasm.
“We are not surprised that the minister is pulling the xenophobia card. We kind of anticipated it,” said the executive committee of NASE, but shot back that it is the government instead that is fuelling xenophobia.
“The decisions, the actions, the rants, the lack of patriotism towards Namibians – all of these things aide conditions of xenophobia,” NASE said.
However, it said its members will “not stoop so low” but “will remain professional to our careers and country”.
“We love everyone, including Zimbabweans, and we will not let politicians turn our conversations and pursuit for fairness upside down into little political labels,” NASE said.
Tweya in his statement also took a swipe at a group of young architects and quantity surveyors who threatened to challenge in court a decision by Minister of Works and Transport Alpheus !Naruseb to exempt 29 Zimbabweans from professional registration.
NASE in reaction said: “The minister [Tweya] should maintain professionalism when using the government pulpit. We elected the government and we are paying for the pulpit.”
CATHERINE SASMAN
In response to the outrage from local professionals over this placement and a proposed exemption from registration with the Namibia Council of Architects and Quantity Surveyors for 29 Zimbabweans, Tweya in his statement also cautioned against xenophobia.
NASE fired back, saying Tweya's statement lacks patriotism but smacks of sarcasm.
“We are not surprised that the minister is pulling the xenophobia card. We kind of anticipated it,” said the executive committee of NASE, but shot back that it is the government instead that is fuelling xenophobia.
“The decisions, the actions, the rants, the lack of patriotism towards Namibians – all of these things aide conditions of xenophobia,” NASE said.
However, it said its members will “not stoop so low” but “will remain professional to our careers and country”.
“We love everyone, including Zimbabweans, and we will not let politicians turn our conversations and pursuit for fairness upside down into little political labels,” NASE said.
Tweya in his statement also took a swipe at a group of young architects and quantity surveyors who threatened to challenge in court a decision by Minister of Works and Transport Alpheus !Naruseb to exempt 29 Zimbabweans from professional registration.
NASE in reaction said: “The minister [Tweya] should maintain professionalism when using the government pulpit. We elected the government and we are paying for the pulpit.”
CATHERINE SASMAN
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article