Paragon, the airport tender and multiple burdens
The colonial state created two levels of problems as far as integration into the global political economy is concerned in our post-colonial society.
In countries that suffered settler colonialism, the colonising forces created a ‘little Europe’ in these apparently independent nations. Little Europe refers to Europeans who remained, settled and integrated themselves in the new societies as Zimbabweans, Kenyans and Namibians.
They were left with enormous and overwhelming economic muscle, such that political freedom would not touch them and their interests.
It is not just the economic muscle; some of them, particularly in societies such as Namibia, have created instruments such as constitutions that protect their interests. So integrated are little Europeans that they don’t always have to defend their interests themselves.
This exercise is carried out by the blacks themselves. This is why the natives, including freedom fighters, were the first ones to propagate a lie that has since become prevalent: that the European-designed constitution cannot be changed, particularly in material aspects. This is how successful little Europe has been.
Outside the political designs of political institutions and the capture of the consciousness of black leaders, including weakened freedom fighters, little Europe has the judiciary at its disposal for three reasons.
List of three
Firstly, an overwhelming majority of the laws that are used and interpreted by our courts are those designed and written by little Europeans and their ancestors. They are thus familiar with and often protected by the laws they designed and wrote.
Secondly, the Namibian judiciary is often accessible primarily to the wealthy.
Because the little Europeans have been bequeathed and maintain overwhelming economic control, the expensive judicial process becomes their background. Getting into a battle with them often means a professional boxer is placed in a ring with an untrained, unfit and uncoached teenager.
Since this won’t change anytime soon, it is only a matter of time before the majority of Namibians realise that the judiciary is the wrong place to seek justice, despite the propaganda being spread by a tiny group wearing black gowns bought from the same shop owned by little Europe.
Thirdly, as previously stated, little Europeans don’t always have to fight for their interests personally, as this can be done by the natives themselves. Think of what has happened in the judiciary. The natives, on behalf of little Europe, created a specialised court for the rich, unashamedly called the "commercial court".
To access this court, your dispute must be valued at more than N$1 million, last time I checked. The same is not available for the poor, who need help the most. In fact, the idea of creating a small claims court has been with the judicial leaders and co-opted natives for more than 20 years. The same is not available for us, women, who are victims of GBV.
Structural
No one from the tiny but influential profession wearing black gowns from the same shop owned by little Europeans profoundly perused this matter. But the judiciary will still be fraudulently associated with justice.
As if the structural constraints brought by little Europe were not enough, the natives still have another burden from actual Europe. This often comes in the form of large European corporations such as Menzies that dominate the local economies.
When they arrive, they team up with little Europe to pursue common interests. It is clearly a reunion of relatives. Sadly, it is easier for Europe to unite with little Europe than for the Lozis from Zambia to unite with the Subiya in Namibia. This in itself is part of the little European design of the superstructure and software in the names of the natives and their offspring.
In the name of elusive concepts such as ‘citizenship’ and ‘patriotism’, one would think that a rogue company such as Menzies would unite Namibians – both natives and little Europeans. This is clearly not the case. As we have seen in the Paragon versus Menzies case, Europe united with little Europe to frustrate the natives who have lawfully succeeded in an open economic competition.
Because of the three reasons discussed above, the judiciary was a readily available instrument in the hands of Europe solemnised with little Europe.
They are still fighting in that theatre known to them and their ancestors. Interestingly, though, is the subtle rebuke and contempt, by Europe and little Europe, of the judiciary, which is clearly operating outside its mandate of serving and protecting the interests of little Europe.
The Paragon case shows us the double burden of the natives. Had W.E.B. du Bois been alive now, he might have added that whereas the problem of the 20th century was that of colour lines, that of the 21st century is triple: that of the colour line, the pocket and the consciousness.
Muthoni waKongola is a native of Kongola in the Zambezi region primarily concerned with analysing society and offering ideas for a better Namibia. She is reachable at [email protected] or @wakongola on Twitter
In countries that suffered settler colonialism, the colonising forces created a ‘little Europe’ in these apparently independent nations. Little Europe refers to Europeans who remained, settled and integrated themselves in the new societies as Zimbabweans, Kenyans and Namibians.
They were left with enormous and overwhelming economic muscle, such that political freedom would not touch them and their interests.
It is not just the economic muscle; some of them, particularly in societies such as Namibia, have created instruments such as constitutions that protect their interests. So integrated are little Europeans that they don’t always have to defend their interests themselves.
This exercise is carried out by the blacks themselves. This is why the natives, including freedom fighters, were the first ones to propagate a lie that has since become prevalent: that the European-designed constitution cannot be changed, particularly in material aspects. This is how successful little Europe has been.
Outside the political designs of political institutions and the capture of the consciousness of black leaders, including weakened freedom fighters, little Europe has the judiciary at its disposal for three reasons.
List of three
Firstly, an overwhelming majority of the laws that are used and interpreted by our courts are those designed and written by little Europeans and their ancestors. They are thus familiar with and often protected by the laws they designed and wrote.
Secondly, the Namibian judiciary is often accessible primarily to the wealthy.
Because the little Europeans have been bequeathed and maintain overwhelming economic control, the expensive judicial process becomes their background. Getting into a battle with them often means a professional boxer is placed in a ring with an untrained, unfit and uncoached teenager.
Since this won’t change anytime soon, it is only a matter of time before the majority of Namibians realise that the judiciary is the wrong place to seek justice, despite the propaganda being spread by a tiny group wearing black gowns bought from the same shop owned by little Europe.
Thirdly, as previously stated, little Europeans don’t always have to fight for their interests personally, as this can be done by the natives themselves. Think of what has happened in the judiciary. The natives, on behalf of little Europe, created a specialised court for the rich, unashamedly called the "commercial court".
To access this court, your dispute must be valued at more than N$1 million, last time I checked. The same is not available for the poor, who need help the most. In fact, the idea of creating a small claims court has been with the judicial leaders and co-opted natives for more than 20 years. The same is not available for us, women, who are victims of GBV.
Structural
No one from the tiny but influential profession wearing black gowns from the same shop owned by little Europeans profoundly perused this matter. But the judiciary will still be fraudulently associated with justice.
As if the structural constraints brought by little Europe were not enough, the natives still have another burden from actual Europe. This often comes in the form of large European corporations such as Menzies that dominate the local economies.
When they arrive, they team up with little Europe to pursue common interests. It is clearly a reunion of relatives. Sadly, it is easier for Europe to unite with little Europe than for the Lozis from Zambia to unite with the Subiya in Namibia. This in itself is part of the little European design of the superstructure and software in the names of the natives and their offspring.
In the name of elusive concepts such as ‘citizenship’ and ‘patriotism’, one would think that a rogue company such as Menzies would unite Namibians – both natives and little Europeans. This is clearly not the case. As we have seen in the Paragon versus Menzies case, Europe united with little Europe to frustrate the natives who have lawfully succeeded in an open economic competition.
Because of the three reasons discussed above, the judiciary was a readily available instrument in the hands of Europe solemnised with little Europe.
They are still fighting in that theatre known to them and their ancestors. Interestingly, though, is the subtle rebuke and contempt, by Europe and little Europe, of the judiciary, which is clearly operating outside its mandate of serving and protecting the interests of little Europe.
The Paragon case shows us the double burden of the natives. Had W.E.B. du Bois been alive now, he might have added that whereas the problem of the 20th century was that of colour lines, that of the 21st century is triple: that of the colour line, the pocket and the consciousness.
Muthoni waKongola is a native of Kongola in the Zambezi region primarily concerned with analysing society and offering ideas for a better Namibia. She is reachable at [email protected] or @wakongola on Twitter
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