EDITORIAL: Why the Zimbabwean election matters to us
Numerically, Namibia is not a primary destination for Zimbabweans seeking economic refuge from their troubled country, but the influx is still proportionally significant.
Thus, we are interested in the elections that were held yesterday. Zimbabwe’s underperforming economy has driven thousands of its citizens to flood neighbouring countries – especially regional economic powerhouse South Africa – breeding potential instability in southern Africa.
Therefore, this election is not a strictly sovereign matter for Zimbabwe in the conventional sense. Not as long as it has major spillover effects on other countries, like Namibia.
Apart from the migratory species that Zimbabweans have become, it is equally important to wish our neighbours success in general. It doesn’t have to be linked to the possibility of taking in more of their citizens.
The people of that country have suffered enough from a myriad of issues, the majority of them homemade. Add to that the sanctions imposed by the USA and the UK, and you have a human catastrophe at hand.
Innocent Zimbabweans cannot continue to live in despair, poverty and other forms of perpetual suffering.
Zimbabwe used to produce academics, scientists and competent personnel for high-end jobs. Now it produces men sewing shoes on the streets and women selling boiled eggs.
This, while Bona Mugabe, at the age of 33, owns 21 farms, an US$8 million mansion in Dubai, and a fleet of luxury cars. We are not making this up. It’s detailed in her divorce papers.
Thus, we are interested in the elections that were held yesterday. Zimbabwe’s underperforming economy has driven thousands of its citizens to flood neighbouring countries – especially regional economic powerhouse South Africa – breeding potential instability in southern Africa.
Therefore, this election is not a strictly sovereign matter for Zimbabwe in the conventional sense. Not as long as it has major spillover effects on other countries, like Namibia.
Apart from the migratory species that Zimbabweans have become, it is equally important to wish our neighbours success in general. It doesn’t have to be linked to the possibility of taking in more of their citizens.
The people of that country have suffered enough from a myriad of issues, the majority of them homemade. Add to that the sanctions imposed by the USA and the UK, and you have a human catastrophe at hand.
Innocent Zimbabweans cannot continue to live in despair, poverty and other forms of perpetual suffering.
Zimbabwe used to produce academics, scientists and competent personnel for high-end jobs. Now it produces men sewing shoes on the streets and women selling boiled eggs.
This, while Bona Mugabe, at the age of 33, owns 21 farms, an US$8 million mansion in Dubai, and a fleet of luxury cars. We are not making this up. It’s detailed in her divorce papers.
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Namibian Sun
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