Africa-Press – Namibia. AS NAMIBIA celebrates 32 years of independence, some ministers who served in the first Cabinet under former president Sam Nujoma, say there is very little to celebrate on this day.
They also concur that unemployment remains enemy number one to prosperity. They, however, agree that decent progress has been made in other aspects. Moreover, they deplore that the current political sphere is all about self-enrichment, as opposed to advancing the economy.
Former prime minister Nahas Angula, who served as the country’s first education minister, says the political sphere in Namibia is being used to benefit certain individuals and not the society as a whole, 32 years after independence.
“You should focus on society as a whole, and not on your own benefit. Yes, you as an individual will be rewarded, you will get your salary, but do not use politics, ask people to vote for you to enrich yourself. Do not do that, you are betraying their trust. As long as we have that tendency in our political environment, whereby people seek a political office for self-gratification, I can tell you, we will not carry this nation where we want to carry it to,” he says.
He says the country should focus on the future to make Namibia better. “My advice to my young friends is that even if you are not able to find a job, try to find something to learn, a skill, a new skill to learn if you can, so you can diversify your opportunities for job seeking,” he said.
Angula, who has ventured into farming, is urging the president to appoint a commission of inquiry on youth unemployment. He has further congratulated Namibians for holding hands for the past 32 years, keeping peace, brotherhood, sisterhood and good neighbourliness, as well as the stability of the country.
Angula says Namibians should keep it that way for 32 years to come, however, this does not mean the country is not faced with challenges. Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, who served as the first youth and sport minister, says there is nothing to celebrate. She attributed this to the myriad issues faced by the country, including the youth unemployment rate and a slow rate of economic activity.
“I don’t know what we are going to celebrate this year. I am also asking myself because really in the rural areas, people are hard hit by the slowdown in economic activity, youth unemployment and the closure of so many enterprises. These are things that do not put a smile on our people’s faces. If it were me, I would not celebrate this year at all,” says the former home affairs minister.
Former fisheries minister Helmut Angula is calling on Namibia to work towards employment creation. “We need to reduce dependency on advanced economies. This, I must say, is a long struggle that must be carried out for our future generation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the then local government and housing minister and former deputy prime minister Libertina Amathila says Namibia has made a lot of progress 32 years after independence. She said the Namibian roads are of the best in the world.
Amathila is advising young Namibians to better themselves and contribute to the economy. “Small nation, but proper things we are doing. The young people should tell us about the new things being discovered and how you want us to deal with the new discoveries made recently.”
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