Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro
WITHERTO Epukiro? Yours Truly Ideologically cannot but pose the question. Seeing the evident shocking state of stagnation, if not decline, of the Epukiro Constituency socio-economically.
Definitely impacting on body soul of the Constituency like the spirituality, culture and indeed the mental health of its inhabitants. Because, more than anything, the constituency cannot be said to be anything better than a socio-economic, and by extension, also cultural and spiritual ruin. Underpinned, foremost, by nothing but lack of socio-economic progress. It has been a good 15 years now since it assumed and/or was given a constituency status of its own from the Otjinene Constituency it was part of. The assumption and/or motivation and expectation then was that the area was being suffocated by Otjinene Main in terms of socio-economic progress. Thus, it was believed, rightly or wrongly so, that if separated and severed from Otjinene, this would pave the way, for starters, for some socio-economic progress. Fifteen years down the road, there is little empirical evidence, at least from a cursory look and/or layperson’s view, if any firm foundation has since been and/or is being laid to jump-start any socio-economic advancement. The raison d’être that prompted its severance from the Otjinene Constituency. Nor have the prospects for such ever since been better now. Nor is it forecast to ever become better sooner or later. Let alone any signs of any foundation being laid for such, if only for a beginning towards socio-economic progress.
The saying goes that one should and must not judge a book by its cover. In the context of the Epukiro Constituency, the cover can be none other than the settlement of Post 3. But is there, and can there actually be, much to say and/or write home about this settlement?
Despite its seeming popularity by the native inhabitants themselves, hailing it by the popular name of !Nona, three in Khoekhoegowab, or ‘Ondatu’ in either Otjimbanderu or Otjiherero, as you may wish. Yours Truly Ideologically, I cannot but admit it has been some time since frequenting the constituency in its entirety. Besides for whirlwind bypasses on en route errands in the constituency or beyond. But this time around I had a little time for some observations, admittedly short and cursory and thus not qualitative and quantitative. Thus purely impressionistic. But truth be spoken. There was nothing much to write home about and/or find pride in and wish to be proudly associated with the constituency. Particularly regarding what must be “CBD”, for a lack of a better term, of the settlement. The only noticeable and attractive edifice is the local eatery, the Eastern Epukiro Restaurant. Indeed a source of pride, if not the one and only, in the settlement if not the whole constituency. With some work in progress in the form of a new housing development on the outskirts of the settlement.
“Epukiro is a settlement in Omaheke, 124 km from Gobabis,” is among the rare information online about the constituency, even referring to the constituency itself as a settlement. Noting a police station, health clinic and government offices gives the impression that this is all the constituency, or settlement, offers. These, needless to say, are way too short of what one may need if she/he is to and needs to market the constituency. Less its plus-minus 6000 population.
This being the state of affairs, it cannot really be a question of judging a book by its cover but the unpalatable and hard reality. The end of this month sees regional and local elections. One has been hearing comrades, especially within the Swapo Party of Namibia, engaging in internecine cut-throat wars to become the chosen candidate to contest the constituency. For what good defies one’s logic. In view of the fact that even under the mighty Swapo Party, the only party that since the constituency status, there is and has been no evident socio-economic progress in the Constituency. With a general view among the Omaheke public that there is not much the councillors do, being invisible most of the time, Epukiro is by no means any exception. With the councillors perhaps only seen at funerals, not to mention when communities are warring over one or the other tribal trivialities. Further sowing division and retarding progress instead of being a catalyst for unity and development.
If there’s anything that has been debilitating against progression and development in the Epukiro Constituency, it is the covert and overt rivalry between traditional authorities. With ideas, however, in the best interest and progression of the constituency they may be, rejected just because their initiators are less favoured by the traditional authority that be. A leprosy few, if any, of the councillors have been able to help prevent, let alone cure. Thus, the state of stagnation that the constituency seems to have been enduring is partly man-made by the inhabitants themselves and fuelled by their blind political loyalties, motivated by the need to first stuff their greedy stomachs. The latter becoming paramount above the survival interests of the constituency. If anything can be said about the Epukiro Constituency, it is its constant survival and begging mode in which it has been since independence, being entrapped and being unable to extricate itself from. In view of the economic eccentricities of the constituency and climatic headwinds, coupled with its low population that does not seem to engender the constituency to progressive socio-economic progression and advancement, the constituency has been finding itself in dire straits. Not to mention its blatant neglect by the Swapo government despite, for years, the constituency being one of the most Swapo faithful, if not the most faithful and unwavering, constituencies in the Omaheke region.
The constituency, known for livestock farming, is one of the mainstays of the country’s red meat industry. But there is little to show for it in this regard. Except for the farmers literally giving away their hard-bred livestock at exploitative prices. A constant phenomenon belying the free market concept and/or principle of a willing seller and willing buyer, as in a free market where the owners of the products, granted the law of demand and supply, determine the price. Yet nothing seems to be done with the communal farmers, who, for better or worse, are left to the vagaries of the free market. Thus, Yours Truly Ideologically, cannot but have sympathy and empathy with the voters in the constituency, ever faithful but ever neglected. This time around can the regional elections bring and make any difference to the constituency? Simply the experiences of the years gone by do not inspire at all.
