There is an old Nigerian saying that goes, “You cannot stand next to the river and wash your face with saliva.” In other words, when abundance is at your feet, it is an insult to go thirsty. That proverb captures perfectly where Namibia stands today. Our nation sits on fertile soil, blessed with rivers, rainfall, and arable land that has for too long been left underutilized.
It is against this backdrop that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s recent visit to the green schemes of the Kavango East Region takes on profound meaning. On Thursday, she walked the fields of Shadikongoro, taking in the sunflowers and the wheat, and speaking directly with small-scale farmers. She left not with empty rhetoric, but with onions bought from the soil of her people. And when she declared, “I must feed this nation,” she was not merely stating a wish, she was affirming a duty.
The President’s Mantra in Action
From the first days of her presidency, Nandi-Ndaitwah has been guided by the mantra that “we are too few to be poor.” It is a phrase that cuts to the bone of our national condition. Namibia, with its small population and vast landmass, cannot justify poverty when the means of prosperity are right before us. Her presence at the green schemes is not symbolic window dressing. It is leadership through demonstration: seeing the land, engaging the farmers, and reminding us that our breadbasket potential is not a dream, but a responsibility.
The Governor of Kavango East, Hambyuka Hamunyera, was right when he said the visit motivated farmers and workers. But more than that, it motivated a nation. For too long, our agricultural schemes have been treated as side projects, marred by inconsistent policy and patchy implementation. The President’s decision to shine a light on them signals that food security is no longer a line in a speech, it is a national agenda.
Green Schemes as Namibia’s Bread Basket
The Kavango, with its riverine belt, has long been known as Namibia’s sleeping granary. The soil is rich, the water is present, and the climate, when managed correctly, can produce crops in abundance. Green schemes like Shadikongoro, Musese, Ndonga Linena, and others were never just about farming; they were about sovereignty. Because food sovereignty is as critical as political independence.
We must therefore see these schemes as Namibia’s bread basket. Imagine a Namibia where wheat from Shadikongoro feeds our bakeries, where maize from Ndonga Linena stocks every village shop, where sunflower oil produced locally is not just a niche product but a staple in every home. Imagine a Namibia where onions are not imported by the truckload from South Africa, but purchased, like the President did, directly from Namibian farmers.
This is not fantasy. It is a future within our grasp if we treat agriculture with the seriousness it deserves.
Feeding the Nation, Building the Economy
When the President says she will feed the nation, she is also speaking about jobs. Agriculture is labour-intensive. Every hectare tilled, every crop harvested, every product processed means work for Namibians. It is work that not only provides wages but also dignity, purpose, and rootedness.
Moreover, a functioning agricultural sector means foreign currency saved. Namibia spends billions annually importing basic foodstuffs, wheat, maize, vegetables, that could be grown right here. By investing in green schemes, we are not only cutting our import bill, we are creating an export economy that positions Namibia as a supplier to our neighbours.
Overcoming Past Mistakes
Of course, we must not romanticize the past. Green schemes have struggled with mismanagement, underfunding, and a lack of technical expertise. Some fields lie fallow while others produce far below potential. The President’s challenge will be to ensure that this time, the schemes are run like businesses, not political ornaments. That means involving the private sector where necessary, providing proper training for small-scale farmers, and ensuring accountability at every stage.
It also means integrating innovation. From irrigation technologies to climate-smart agriculture, Namibia must modernize its farming methods. We cannot feed the nation with outdated practices. But with the right blend of government commitment, private sector efficiency, and community ownership, we can build something extraordinary.
A Call to Collective Action
The President has set the tone. She has walked the fields and made the pledge. Now the rest of us must follow. Regional councils must prioritize agriculture in their budgets. Policymakers must remove red tape that strangles farmers. Financial institutions must develop loan products that allow emerging farmers to thrive. Universities and vocational colleges must train the next generation of agriculturalists and food scientists.
Most importantly, ordinary Namibians must shift their mindset. To buy Namibian onions, tomatoes, maize meal, or cooking oil is to invest in our collective future. Feeding the nation is not only the President’s duty, it is all of ours.
We Are Too Few to Be Poor
When Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says “we are too few to be poor,” she is not offering a slogan. She is making a diagnosis of Namibia’s condition and prescribing a solution rooted in our own land. Poverty amid abundance is unacceptable. Hunger amid fertile fields is an insult to our ancestors and a betrayal of our children.
The green schemes of Kavango East are not perfect, but they are proof of concept. They are reminders that Namibia can feed itself, clothe itself, and export to others if only we commit with seriousness and vision.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s visit should therefore be remembered not merely as a photo opportunity, but as the day Namibia was reminded of its potential to be a bread basket.
And so, let us return to the Nigerian proverb. To stand beside the river and wash one’s face with saliva is to live in needless deprivation. Namibia has stood at that river’s edge for too long. Now, under a President who has declared she will feed her nation, we must bend down, cup the water with our hands, and drink deeply of the abundance that is already ours.
