Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro
Next Friday, Namibia will turn 35 years old. If Namibia were a human being, one would have considered him or her a grown-up and middle-aged and thus expected her/him to be mature enough to either be entrusted with crucial decisions in life or be entrusted with full responsibility for his life.
Because a person is already considered mature—although not that mature— by the age of 21 years. This is symbolised by giving them a key, The key symbolises the transition to adulthood, the assumption of new responsibilities, and the unlocking of opportunities and independence. Intriguing enough it seems when it comes to a country there appears to be no age limit when any country there seems no time limit when any could and may be considered to have developed, let alone marginally. Despite turning 35 years old in a week’s time, Namibia still may not be considered to have had enough time to achieve significant socio-economic progress. This does not pertain to Namibia only, but there are some countries that, despite having been independent for more than 60 years, seem like they have never attained such and their destiny and that of the people remain as uncertain as during colonial capitalism.
But Yours Truly Ideologically thinks any country does not need donkey years to realise any development, however marginal this may be. Most recently I travelled to our eastern neighbour of Botswana in the company of a fellow who in the late 1970s skipped the country into Botswana, escaping the then-apartheid regime in Namibia. Remembering the time he and a fellow skipped the country, the road from the Trans-Kalahari border post into Botswana was then only a sandy two-track spoor. One can imagine this was not the only one of its kind, but most roads in Botswana then. Fast forward to 2025, barely 45 years later, this road all the way to Gaborone, a stretch of about 769 kilometres. When Botswana became independent in 1966, it was literally a village. Today it is a different place altogether, 65 years after. This defies the misperception that development takes years and years. Yes, granted, but every year must see some notable developments in one or the other area. So that come next year, any country goes on to the next development rather than being stuck in mythical development. What matters after all is not so much time but an ideology-infused political will. Likewise, the case of Burkina Faso is a lesson in commitment and resolve as well as political will when talking of the interest of the country and her people. Where, it seems, her leader Ibrahim Traore has not been wasting time and resources but striving to take his country to great heights in no time, looking at milestone after milestone he seems to achieve in a space of only three years now since 2022 when he grabbed power in a military takeover. Demystifying that one needs time, and more than the necessary number of terms to govern, to be able to make meaningful change in the lives of especially the ordinary people. It goes without saying that at the rate at which Traore has been moving things in his country, he does not need a second term.
Yours Truly Ideologically, it is referencing Botswana and Burkina Faso as a way of reflecting on Namibia’s own 35 years of freedom, independence and justice that Namibia is celebrating next Friday. Is there a valid reason for Namibia to celebrate its 35 years of independence? Yes, 35 years of political independence have not been punctuated by prosperity. But on the contrary, by growing hunger, inequality, poverty, marginalisation, you name them. GGiven this situation, is there any reason to rejoice? Yes, but only in one regard. Namibia has successfully attained independence. But not independence for its own sake and as an end in itself but as a means to an end, this end being the Second Revolution, which is about the socio-economic well-being of the people. Thus, until we reach that stage, at least one of readying and readiness for the Second Revolution, celebrating independence is no more than a meaningless, egoistic act of self-deception.
“It turned out that independence as thus conceived was independence for the very few who enjoyed the crumbs from the loot. This was an important element in the birth and genesis of neo-colonialism,” writes the late Kenneth Koma of Botswana in his treatise: The Second Phase Of The African Revolution Has Now Began. Surely every Namibian, as we are entering 35 years of independence, needs to pause and seriously reflect on this and what meaning independence has been to her and/or him. Only then can she or he be in a better position to answer if there’s cause to celebrate 35 years of independence. What does independence stand for? Is it freedom from poverty, squalor, socio-economic miseries, or homelessness? Last but not least, freedom from oppression and injustice. Free from the abovementioned or not, but also in terms of civil liberties, to what extent are Namibians enjoying civil and political liberties?
One cannot with absolute certainty say that there have been no violations and/or threats to these rights. But the question also begs how real they are and have been and if they are more an exception and not the rule.
