I cannot believe that it has been a year and months since I post in my blog, but the good thing is it has been a good year. With two company under my name, I am bound for success.

There should be no doubt that Job Shipululo is emerging on the horizon as both an intellectual and political factor. Job, it seems has been greatly misjudged by many of our contemporaries, there is no doubt that at times he is prone regrettable outburst like the infamous “shanyok” Facebook post, which was all the rage at the time.

I too have found some of his written and oral outbursts dissapointing but never in a threatening way, for example as an intellectual, however young and exuberant one may be. One must conquer the urge to spew vitriol against others, no matter the extend under which one’s own character and work may came into question. All of us, as contributors to public discourse will one time or another come face to face with the most brutish attacks on our person. The test of one’s aptitude is the ability to take that into stride and to offer sober, concrete and tested ideas that will elevate debate into its rightful realm. Thus, Dear Comrade Job, even if you are under severe and disparaging assault, never descend to the level of your detractors.keep on keeping on!

Perhaps, another minor tendency emerging amongst our younger peers is the ill-advised knack to claim the victories scored by our nascent society against poverty and government indifference for oneself. The victories we win and lose on daily basis in the fight to advance our society, are the results of Namibians from different walks of life, whose collective abilities and sacrifices come together in a unity of purpose of sorts, to help propel this nation forward. The miscellany of efforts in the form of exposing, engagement, lobbying, advocating and educating from CSO’s, Youth Groups, officials, think tanks, journalist, political parties, worker unions, intellectuals and traditional leaders amongst a host of other social actors over time, are the real underlying motive force that ultimately propel us forward. To in the face of the above, claim all progress as ones doing is a bit of a stretch if you ask me. The inverse of which is to accept no role in our society for any off the multitude of challenges we face, except to kick dust in the face of those who have the difficult task of getting things going, is just as foolhardy. Certainly, I admit there are many who are supposed to get things done, whose (in)abilities and excessive failures leave little inspiration for assurance, we must nevertheless be champions of the future by doing (or even trying), in addition to the talking.

However, if it is true as Job suggest that much hatred has been spewed in his direction for advancing the views he has, then this is wrong and misguided. I am worried that we are following the footsteps of our elders whom we have remonstrated against so much for exactly these tendencies. How can we as the emerging youthful intellectual class of our generation and party, be so violent and abhorrently vitriolic for that matter, against one of our own? The views that Job and others like him have, maybe provocative in some part, but they should in no way lead to the kind of venom that Job implies he is getting. If we were to elevate our engagement with Job to the intellectual realm, we may find that some of the notions that we constantly find being advanced, may fall away easily in the face of sober and scientific scrutiny. For example, Comrade Job in a recent video posted on Youtube castigates the National Pride Campaign in a manner similar to that made by Gwen Lister some time ago in her perspective in The Namibian. While both held respectable views on why such a campaign was a waste, I found it difficult to reconcile Comrade Job’s anger with the GIPF’s DCP gaff as a basis for rejecting The National Pride Campaign. He also makes the argument that Namibians according to the Afrobarometer have proven to be highly patriotic, fine and well, but is it not exactly this, our common and collective rejection of corruption that should be one of the pillars of a national and unified effort to promote such positive values in our search for true national unity, beyond what Job at many a fora has dubbed “flag and anthem citizenship” as opposed to “substantive citizenship”. What is substantive citizenship in the teleological sense then? If it is something good, as I suspect it is, should it then not be engendered and if yes, how so? Better still, if other views are confirmed and correct, such as his views on the exploits of a certain namibian award winning vixen and a certain sushi loving bussines man from South Africa and the decay of morals in namibia, then is it also not waranted that such good ideas be heralded, why do we insist in reacting only to what is negetive in our view.

A true cadre with substance can therefore not on the basis of what Job may have said or posted, erase all ones ideological nuances; one must internalise and test any hypothesis, reject it or accept it. we can also not be angered by them, thus lets stop the needles "murmurings" as Job puts it.lets engage the issues and not the man. Violence, even if it is only verbal violence, is the retreat of the ideologically myopic, as cadres we must realise that such intellectual chauvinism cannot be our path; let us engage in a battle of ideas not against each other. Live, and let live, LET JOB BE….

 

400 Bad request

Your browser sent an invalid request.
Automatically translated into German thanks to WorldLingo

 

It is becoming increasingly apparent that Namibia is in the grasp of a heated presidential succession battle. One recognises this, from the prominence of the succession issue in almost every discussion I have these days. People are fascinated by the prospect of a new President and certainly, rightfully so. While many in politics it seems are gearing themselves to front and be at centre of the succession battle and debates, what interest they purport to advance is unclear and muddled in an often odd political rhetoric.

It is important that clarity should emerge from the current obfuscation of political rhetoric of polarising Tanganyika; tribalised, exile and male centred rhetoric, which I find dominates what should essentially be a process that should inject hope and aspiration amongst the youth, clarity in our development discourse and unity within the rank and file of the party. Alas, it seems the above, despite its obvious imperatives, have been reduced to the periphery of the current discourse around succession. Our nation’s fixation with personality rather than policy and process, mechanisation, institution building and ideas, is perhaps an indication of embryonic views with regards to the requirements of and for our development.

My hope is also that as we set along this path, that we free ourselves from the narrowing and limiting confines of prejudice. It is a disheartening state of affairs when as a social-political commentator; one should be aligned to or against a certain political tendency or group, on the basis of either critical or positive reflections of nascent developments. I take this defence posture without any apology and ask of the followers of our development discourse to focus more on substance – informed by national strategy and development policy - rather than attempting to canonise or vilify discourse in a polarised fashion, particularly based on personality and other parochial factors.

It is important to make the argument that a youth development agenda in Namibia has been conspicuously absent in 2004 succession process and sadly, it remains absent as we trudge towards 2012. It goes without saying that if the process remains as it is – currently appearing as empty idolisation and counter demonization of personalities - we risk alienating young people from the process. As young people we must be aware that this period is a moment in which we are extremely vulnerable to the seductive but unpromising conjecture of politicians. While as a young person I expect to be courted by actual aspirants to the Presidency and rightfully so, it must be so on the basis of concrete development agenda with a strong emphasis on opening up new spaces for participation in the economy, society and polity for youth. We must be able in this moment to discern more than ever, tactical obfuscation from a clear and coherent response to youth development demands.  We cannot be expected to get excited at the prospect of succession, in the absence of meat on the empty bones of the process as we see it playing itself out now.

What is in it for us? This is the question we must ask as young people, in unison and with clear expectations. It is my expectation that the leadership will not align or dissociate themselves in the succession dynamic on a basis of an absence or presence of private patronage within the complex formations that seems to be emerging in one’s observation. Any courtship in this process with youth structures must be on the basis of key and important considerations. In my view, this should include:

1. A clear commitment established in legislation and evolving policy towards ensuring the strengthening of youth development and institutions, aligned in and with policy and coordination mechanisms including corresponding budgets.
2. A clear strategy guaranteeing policy influence of youth structures in decision making in all areas of national development, including corresponding measures to purposefully strengthen youth organisations to be able to do so.
3. An unequivocal  commitment to youth empowerment (including adolescents)in its three discernable areas of:
4. Economic Empowerment.
5. Political Participation.
6. Social Inclusion.
7. A commitment to the values of Democracy, National Unity, Fairness, Social Justice and equal opportunity for all.
8. A commitment to deal boldly with the structural imbalances in the ownership of our economy, including concrete measures to deal with increasing poverty and income inequality.

The list above is not exhaustive, but it is what one hopes is a not too subjective reflection on some of the issues and principles one would hear being articulated with greater clarity in the succession process. These have been expressed with consideration to the fact that the SWAPO Party’s Central Committee has now decided that a succession process based on the parties Succession Plan and processes would be pursued. It is thus important that those who are in the fold of the thrust of this process must begin to tackle some of these issues, amongst a host of others, as we move forward.

Young people are yearning to be heard and to be engaged and meaningfully involved. It is a terrible shame that often many in positions of authority and power do not prioritise engagements with young people. Young people are now demanding leaders to walk alongside them, and are willing to pursue their chosen course of action even in the absence of such support. As part of this process, our leaders must embrace and appreciate the impact of new platforms [such as social media] as tools for communication and engagement. Those who ignore youth do so at their own peril.

 

400 Bad request

Your browser sent an invalid request.
Automatically translated into Portuguese thanks to WorldLingo

She’s like a grain from the sands of time, with her subliminal gaze which constantly sends all your wits and tactics into frantic mazes of delusion from the onset, and for the duration of this wilful derailment; wilful for the possibility that she could be the ally u've been seeking, and better still you could be the one she's been looking for up until this very instant of verbal debauchery...

You see, she exudes confidence but enacts the exact opposite; with a devilish nature that is accompanied by shear willingness to assist without the expectation of eventual reimbursement. This mix of incongruity is the scent that invigorates the relentless-demonic embodiment of the primal essence which is him; yes he who searches the realms of fantasy and reality in an attempt to discover her unscripted story.

He can’t help but speak to her and converse they do indeed, but the intensity by which the unspoken exchange takes place concurrently, further fuels the addiction to discover her unknown perplexing stature of overstated simplicity...

So the willingness to excavate the un-shown and repressed is the means by which she illustrates her being. It’s the hidden crown of a queen, burnt into the vessels which transport unnamed possibilities within her underutilized dexterity.

While incorporating and publically displaying these virtuous traits she is also the worst part of desire... The lustful empire of discriminative and forced adherence to her own perceived culture of preconceiving and analysing the unknown, instead of letting it just remain as the unsold; untold beauty of being, without worry or a sense of longevity.

But when all is said and done one question still remains “Since the bible clearly states that lucifer was God's most beautiful angel... then why do we base the likelihood of relationships on what the devil was best at? That being the ability to be beautiful with regards to the exterior, while constantly maintaining an illusion of a false interior.”

One thing is for sure, it is impossible to converse with beauty. It is merely for the gratification of the sighted and holds no weight with regards to the sustainable invigoration of the soul. Thus we come to realize that the thing that we should be in search of has eluded the presence of our ignorance, and by its absence illustrates that, by our own doing, most of us are already damned for the remainder of this loveless reality.

A reality that is in actuality, a lust-filled travesty.

© December 15,  2010 Nikolai Tjongarero

 

 

Setting the Context.

The issue of the children of Namibia’s liberation Struggle (CLS) is one that is very divisive and a debate in which many and varied opinions exist. Certainly the perceived arrogance of the CLS has not helped the case, but neither should the unique historical context out of which my generation was born be ignored.

In this highly emotive debate contextualising is imperative, allow me therefore to state categorically that the Children of the liberation struggle include but is not limited to  all those young people who are under the age of 35 who were born or raised outside Namibia as a result of the war for independence, they also include youth who have lost one or both parents as a result of the war and or any youth whose personal and psycho social development has been stunted or negatively affected as a direct result of the Namibian people’s war against colonial oppression.

Thus, the definition of children of the liberation struggle includes both those youth who were born and raised in and outside of Namibia, any bias towards either is unjustified and prejudicial. The question then is whether such youth deserve special consideration in the allocation of social services? For which my answer is a categorical yes.

CLS in Namibia today.

The Namibian war of liberation according to Colin Leys and Susan Brown (2005) experienced a phenomena not experienced in other struggles’ of liberation in Africa. This phenomenon is popularly referred to as the 1974 “Exodus” in which it is estimated that up to 6, 000 (ibid) young men and woman especially from northern Namibia crossed the northern frontier to join the armed struggle. These young man and woman include amongst many other Maj Gen Martin Shali, Pendukeni Ivula Ithana, Maj Gen Charles Namoloh, Hon Joel Kaapanda and many others. Many other young people from the south of the “redline” also found their way into exile, These Included AU Commissioner Bience Gawanas, Maj Gen James Tjivikua, Mihe “Mistake’ Goamab amongst thousands of others.

For the thousands that left Namibia, perhaps thousands more youths remained in Namibia and decided to wage the war of liberation from within, such young people included amongst hundreds of thousands of others, my parents, who after being expelled from the University of Western Cape in 1976/7 returned to Namibia, and continued with their activism along with them, The Late Dan Tjongarero, Hon Immanuel Ngatjizeko, Hon Alpheus Naruseb, Paul Vleermuis, Hon Ben Ulenga, Hon Jerry Ekandjo, Bob Kandetu, Hon Bernard Esau, Daniel Kamho, Hon Alpheus Muheua, Bishop Kameeta, Hon Marco Hausiku, the Late Hon Haingura and many others chose to do so from within .

It is the offspring of the above set of groups, that are the Children of the Liberation Struggle were borne from, our parents all of them white and black, north of the red line and south of it, businessman, ordinary workers, man, woman, leaders or ordinary supporters of the liberation struggle, it is us, that are the much talked about CLS, it is our common heritage that belongs to all of my generation.

It is for the most part, such incidences as above, that set the stage for the children of the liberation struggle today. Whilst I admit, that apart from intermittent incidences of direct insecurity, fear and injustice, I had for the most part a well adjusted working class Christian upbringing. My parents I must admit shielded my sister and I, very well from the harassment and violence they faced on a daily basis for their involvement in the SWAPO Party and labour movement. Accept for amongst other one incident related to my father’s detention without trial, along with Anton Lubowski and Hendrik Witbooi in the late 1980’s, I cannot recall many other incidences of heightened hysteria In my immediate family circumstance.

The war had a much more devastating effect for many other youths and their families, in some cases families where split by detentions, death, separation and assignments related directly to the struggle for liberation. I have friends in this regard whom have never seen one or both of their parents, I have friends who were not in exile but whose parent(s) never made it back alive from exile. Whilst there are many children born and raised during the liberation who have grown to be successful and well adjusted young man and woman, many other have not had such luck and have been left their own devices.

Again, while there may have been some programs to cater for the reintegration of youth into the schools and family setup, there are also many another instances where support in respect to children of liberation struggle was inadequate and out of reach.

Again, while SWAPO, the United Nations, frontline states, the international community and institution like CCN deserve much praise for their efforts to shield children from the chilling effects of the war for liberation. The legacy of children of the liberation struggle that we have inherited today is clearly testimony that gapping holes in many such interventions have resulted in today’s challenges. Perhaps the sheer volume of displaced, injured, killed and effected Namibians was just too great .The Psycho social support void, has left us with this gapping legacy in our struggle for youth development today. While children of liberation struggle are not more “special” than other youth in Namibia today, they certainly have special circumstances that if left undressed will continue to disadvantage them and their offspring socially, economically and emotionally.

For example just as black children are no more special than white children, or girls no more special than boys, the special and different circumstances of the former require dedicated interventions in order to mitigate the disproportionate economic and social outcomes that arise from their gender or racial characteristics, similarly while Children of the liberation Struggle are no more special than say Free borns ,it is necessary that the state and society in its social and economic discourse underscores the special circumstances of my generation in addressing the problems of the time.

Many CLS have claimed that they have been unable to gain jobs and access to basic services because they do not have any identity documents, many more have said that they struggle to adjust socially, economically and emotionally, as a direct result of the war. I am sure in hindsight if we knew then, what we know today, we would have done much more to change this picture.  

While some research has been done, particularly in respect to children raised in the former GDR, a large research void still exist in determining the impact of the war on children that grew up during that time and on the inadequacy of support programs for such children during and after the retreat of occupationist forces.

Conclusion

The reality is the deeper we became entrenched in the issues ,challenges and opportunities of post independence, the bigger the void between the nations liberation era children and national development became.

It is regrettable that the understanding of the context and issues around Children of the liberation Struggle is caught up in vexatious innuendo by some, which has caused unnecessary mistrust and deviation of the predominant issue. CLS are inclusive of both those youth born and raised inside and outside Namibia during the time of the liberation struggle, any other assertion, intent or interpretation to the contrary should be regarded are mischievous at best and destabilising at worst.

  

Having to walk 2.5 km to and from work, Monday to Friday in Namibia as a volunteer has taught me a lot about resilience. My placement profile read that I will have a car to use for my official work which to me would also be a plus to avoid walking under the hot sun during summer and the never ending dust of this beautiful town. Upon arrival, there was no car in sight and the possibility of the institution buying a new one was only a pipe dream. Necessity being the mother of invention…. I learned a new trick called “Piggy backing” on other organizations cars, other volunteers who come to visit /work in my town for a few days or locals if they are heading the same direction as I. that has worked well for me and I cannot complain. At the same time walking is not that bad at all…..it is a blessing in disguise, I get to meet people one on one, relate my life to others, watch school children going to school as young as five years old walking on their own for a better tomorrow the promise of an education and knowledge. Watch women who are mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, students, aunts, grandmothers, care givers the list is endless doing different kinds of activities from dawn to dusk. All these activities for their families.


“So amazing how this world was made I wonder if GOD is a woman” This is borrowed from Shaggy’s Lyrics about the Strength of a woman. I was listening to this song over and over yesterday at my house, the volume of my stereo was high not because I wanted to offend anyone ……….it was a shout out to all those women out there in my neighborhood to know that a world re-known musician humbly appreciates the existence of women.


Women are the cog of every world power economy in the universe whether big or small. That woman wakes up every morning to prepare breakfast for the family, clean the house, and wash the dishes and clothes. Later on she leaves the comfort of her home to go and look for a day’s wage either at an able bodied person’s farm or house. This is because of the integrity she has for herself and family. Capable women out there in the world encourage their sons and daughters to work hard in school for a better tomorrow, she denies herself new shoes, clothes or perfume so that the future of any nation can be bright. Wisdom she carries with her in stride and is always a listening ear to those that are her own or orphaned and abandoned due to unknown or known reasons. Wives out there do all that is possible in their ability for their husbands to be known as respected members of society. At the end of this entire how are they paid back?

Women and girls are raped, tortured, assaulted and killed by these very men and people that they gave life to. When a daughter in a household gets pregnant before she finishes school …who bears the blame? The woman is given names by their spouses, partners and acquaintances for a mistake done by her daughter. Now this wonderful person becomes the laughing stock of the village also known as a manner less mother to a manner less, loose daughter who cannot inculcate morals to her children. Mistakes happen and once children leave the woman’s womb they become their own entity just like a business. These children have different personalities and attributes….why should we blame mothers for sins of their children? Why should women be raped by their own sons, husbands, boyfriends or partners and other unknown people? What if this culprit was aborted when conceived….would it be justifiable? Of course not every living thing has a right to life.


This blog goes out to the world seeking justice, truth, reconciliation and respect for all women in our lives may it be our relatives or not. Governments should come up with policies that protect this woman who is a valuable source of life and strong foundation to every nation in the world and any sphere in life, may it be political, economical, social, technological etc. Remember, the fancy wrist watches that we wear on our hands have a cog in them for them to function well same as a woman who is a cog of the entire universe. Let us join hands and oil(Policies that promote gender equality and Equity, Opportunities to join the work force, chances to be presidents in different countries, Education for the girl child, proper health facilities, access to basic social amenities…..the list is endless) this cog(Woman) to function well.


To the world that local woman in a small country, town or village selling vegetables by the roadside, tilling other people’s lands and making hand made crafts does not matter……to me she is my whole world. The food I eat, the clothes I wear, the beauty I have, the education I boast of is thanks to that woman. All the women in the world matter to me big or small, educated or uneducated, tall or short, disabled or abled, rich or poor. Long live the woman.

What is achievement? What are achievements? I have always had difficulties defining in simple terms what an achievement is. Why? In my African mindset, I usually thought that achievement is that big bang that happens once in a lifetime like winning 1million US Dollars lottery or climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro without breaking down along the way up...... Thank God for networking and travels that I have been able to go due to the kind of work that I do.
Achievement is defined by Wikipedia :same as accomplishment while an internet dictionary defines it as a final accomplishment of something noteworthy, after much effort and often in spite of obstacles and discouragements: a scientific achievement. Exploit connotes boldness, bravery, and usually ingenuity: the famous exploit of an aviator. Feat connotes the performance of something difficult, generally demanding skill and strength: a feat of horsemanship. 2. Fulfillment, realization.
Have you ever asked yourself as a young person, what are my achievements in life this far I have come? Simply put achievements are the small things we take for granted as though they don’t matter. The other day I listed down what I have been doing for the past 10 months and yes I had achieved much as a youth and I want to remain youthful to continue doing the things I do for young people to be recognized.
Achievements include:
1. Taking your schooling seriously for those still studying
2. Nurturing your talent in a balanced way while at school i.e. in the US young students get scholarships for higher education due to being the best athletes. It doesn’t matter how average you are in theory let your talents propel you to the next level.
3. Innovations: Africa worldwide is viewed as the worst continent to live in stricken by poverty and diseases but the flipside of the coin is always positive …..because of the tough situations we go through as youths. Many have turned their difficulties into opportunities like starting a soup kitchen for vulnerable children because the founders of the project used to go hungry while growing up.
4. Standing at a podium to give that simple speech during prize giving day, singing in church, mobilizing youths in your community for a fundraising sport tournament is still an achievement.
5. Blogging online on issues affecting humanity is still an achievement because you get to reach the whole world with your ideas, arguments and many more.
6. Youths ARISE this is our time to shine. List down your achievements in a diary or notepad everyday and keep the fire of enthusiasm burning. We are the future of tomorrow…..don’t stop until the job is done.
Achievement defined by me is doing the ordinary things extra ordinarily well. Go for it 

This year is moving really fast, we are already in the middle of the year. It seems like yesterday when it was January

Namibia celebrated its 20th indepence anniversary on the 21st of March.
I think the governement has done a lot in the past 20 years but there is still a lot to be done in Education, Health and youth empowerment.
It was a great long weekend full of celebrations and parties.

I don't understand why people decide to take advantage of other people. You decide to help a person and than agree on certain terms than later that person decide not to honour the agreement but still expect you to keep helping them.

I haven't posted anything on my blog since 2009 December. I have been busy and thinking on how I am gonna approach this year.
In the past years I have found myself making newsyear resolution and I never kept them. This year I told myself that I will only make one new year resolution and I will work hard to achieve it.
I only have one year resolution and many ways to achieve!
I can say so far I am on target with my resolution and I still have 8 months to carry on implementing and reaping the benefit of my resolution.

May god bless you all and your family! May you remember to praise him for what he did for us on that cross.

On saturday a person I know very well decided to attack me with words over something which was his own fault. at first his words were come to me like fire balls and burning on my skin and heart like a sharp spear. I tried to fight back with my own words but I couldn't catch up and because I was in shock by his reactions and rude words.

Words is a powerful weapons that the cowards and bully use to attack other because they can talk and be rude! They know words can make someone feel humiliated and emotional.

If you ever find yourself in the situation I was in remember those words remain the opinion of the speaker and your hapinnes depends on yourself. Some people are still lost soul who are turn to hurt other to gain satisfaction and justify their actions.