EDITORIAL: Not all that glitters is gold
In an age where validation often comes in the form of likes, followers, and flashy lifestyles on social media, many young Namibians are falling into the trap of comparison. Every scroll brings another illusion of success – the latest car, designer clothes, trips abroad, and soft-life captions. But behind the filters and curated perfection often lies a desperate attempt to impress a digital crowd that barely cares.
Too many of our youth are being lured into shortcuts to mimic what they see online. The temptation is understandable in a society where unemployment remains high and genuine opportunity scarce. Yet, resorting to crime or deceit only deepens the cycle of poverty and shame. A stolen image of wealth can never replace the pride of honest work or the peace of a clean conscience.
The recent stories of Nico Rebebe and Victor Malima stand as stark reminders. Rebebe, now behind bars for his alleged role in a botched bank heist, once projected the image of a hustler on the rise. Malima, reportedly on the run from the law, was similarly entangled in the illusion of easy money. Both serve as examples of how the pursuit of overnight wealth can destroy young lives and futures that once held promise.
True success is rarely instant. It comes through persistence, discipline, and time – qualities that don’t trend on TikTok but endure far longer than the fleeting applause of social media. Namibia needs young people who build rather than boast, who create value rather than chase vanity.
Let us remind ourselves that those who flaunt the most may in fact have the least. Let us not measure our worth by someone else’s highlight reel. The quiet student, the street vendor, the young artisan – their grind is real, their dignity intact.
Too many of our youth are being lured into shortcuts to mimic what they see online. The temptation is understandable in a society where unemployment remains high and genuine opportunity scarce. Yet, resorting to crime or deceit only deepens the cycle of poverty and shame. A stolen image of wealth can never replace the pride of honest work or the peace of a clean conscience.
The recent stories of Nico Rebebe and Victor Malima stand as stark reminders. Rebebe, now behind bars for his alleged role in a botched bank heist, once projected the image of a hustler on the rise. Malima, reportedly on the run from the law, was similarly entangled in the illusion of easy money. Both serve as examples of how the pursuit of overnight wealth can destroy young lives and futures that once held promise.
True success is rarely instant. It comes through persistence, discipline, and time – qualities that don’t trend on TikTok but endure far longer than the fleeting applause of social media. Namibia needs young people who build rather than boast, who create value rather than chase vanity.
Let us remind ourselves that those who flaunt the most may in fact have the least. Let us not measure our worth by someone else’s highlight reel. The quiet student, the street vendor, the young artisan – their grind is real, their dignity intact.
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Namibian Sun
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