Stop the racism, tribalism and egotism

JOHN FREDERICKS WRITES: As with the raging economic inequalities in our country, racism, tribalism and egoism will be the downfall of our hard earned political emancipation.The plight of the youth, women and the poor are ignored for personal and selfish material gain, but history have taught us that it will come with a price. The Namibian majority have got nothing to lose, but those of us with vested personal and economic interest in the resources of our country, need not to lay awake at night and ask ourselves if we are less greedy and share the wealth and resources of our country with all Namibians.I may be upholding values that is most likely long gone. Maybe the principle of “each one for themselves and God for us all” rooted itself as an ideology in our communities and our country.The increased levels of racism, with the most recent incident concerning a dog, calls for radical intervention and transformation. The tardiness in how the Ombudsman's Office deal with this very potent and explosive matter, and the delaying implementation of recommendations, will topple our country in a situation that will be very challenging to emerge from.Blacks in Namibia may not be racist, but they can be very egotistic, and that in itself is as damaging and destructive as racism. Though the white lady in the racist dog saga apologised, her views are representative of many whites.I am a resident of one of the former white-only suburbs and on more than one occasion, either the City Police or the Neighbourhood Watch would be called to sort me out for roaming the streets of the neighbourhood. On further investigation, the caller would always have been a white neighbour of the street or surrounding area, not knowing that I am their neighbour, and obviously judging me on my blackness and appearance.There is a white hobo in one of the former white-only suburbs, and I don't think anybody ever called the police about his presence.Racism is thriving in our country, because of a government which in its tardiness do not wish to deal with such matters. Factionalism, bordering on tribalism reared its ugly head in Okahandja, and what is worth noting is that one of the political parties blamed the government for the very unfortunate incident.I will suggest that our ministers and the economic barons must go to the local pubs and shebeens, and listen to the lunch hour talk of the workers, the unemployed, schooled youth and the lowly and underpaid workers' informal discussions to get a feeling of what the mood and thinking is in our country.

Stop the racism, tribalism and egotism

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Republikein 2025-07-08

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Stop the racism, tribalism and egotism

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Republikein 2025-07-08

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