EDITORIAL: A country must have room for all its children

Amid efforts to empower the previously disadvantaged and redress the injustices of Namibia's racial past, the country must be careful not to overlook its white child.

In recent years, many young white Namibians have left the country in search of opportunities elsewhere, particularly after completing tertiary studies abroad. For many, the perception is that finding opportunities and building a future in Namibia has become increasingly difficult.

Namibia cannot afford to lose any of its talent. Highly skilled young Namibians, regardless of race, should be encouraged to contribute to the development of the country that nurtured them. While the historical imperative to empower black Namibians remains both valid and necessary, redress should not create a new form of exclusion.

The Namibia we seek to build is one in which every citizen sees a place for themselves. We should be able to see a white Namibian serving in the police force, the defence force, local authorities, and across the public service, just as naturally as we expect to see black Namibians in those roles. Inclusion must be reflected not only in our rhetoric but also in the opportunities available to all citizens.

The discrimination and subjugation of black Namibians under colonialism and apartheid were profound injustices. The lesson from that history is not that exclusion should change hands, but that it should end altogether. One injustice cannot be corrected by creating another.

The true measure of the new dispensation lies in its ability to demonstrate why the injustices of the past were wrong, by building a society that embraces all its people.

Namibia will ultimately be built by Namibians. Not by one race, one tribe or one political constituency, but by citizens of every colour, language and background who call this country home.