Namibia does have leaders!

Some of them may need the judicious application of a shoe/ boot to their (usually well-padded) posterior; some may have to be reminded why we elected them, while others need to wake up and smell the coffee .... but they are there! They are there!

On the other hand, one usually does not find all the good ones in one place ....... Ask NAMDEB: Gem quality diamonds are few and far between, but they are to be found.

I suppose the analogy to human gems is not unwarranted

Namibia, just like most parts of Africa, is suffering from the lack of leaders with a sense of sincere humanity at heart. The SWAPO government pats itself on the back for bringing independence to this country. But further than that they are unable to point out more significant improvement in the people's lives from the previous apartheid regime. In fact its a common statement from different communities, especially in the southern and north-easten part of the country, that the only improvement in their lives is "the absence of the Kovoet & cassipirs". But many people also feels that SWAPO or no SWAPO, Namibia would still be indepented today(please show me one country in Africa which is still colonised today). In fact, the SWAPO leadership delayed the indepentence of this country when they refused or failed to take ful advantage of that Waldheim plan of 1978. The people who deserve maximum credit for our liberation today are the foot soldiers who braved rainy and stormy weathers, dodged bullets and bombs, survived starvation and the Lubango dangeons for the sake of thier country. not the leaders who were busy fighting for power while the combatants are fighting the "Boers". But amazingly, these are the poeple you will find at the bottom of the food chain in the indepentent Namibian society.

A true leader is measured by virture of how talented he/she is in delivering a speech at apolitical rally or anywhere else for that matter, but measured by his action. Most of the SWAPO leaders exells in the oral arts and would make fine motivational speakers. But unfortunately, what we need in Namibia are leaders who exels in in the art of action. Take Hugo Chavez of Venezuela for instance. The gentleman destroyed two of south America's most luxurious golf corses in Carcas just to build low cost houses for the poor. Fortunately in Namibia, we don't need to uproot the Country Club, for we have land in ambudance. The question is now thus, why can't the govt simply identify a piece of land and bbuild low cos houses for the poor? If you ask the leaders they will tell you "there's no money". But we have money to build a billion dolar palace and railway rails (which are definetely not a needs but rather a wants). Why can't the govt take it upon themselves to subsdise all neeedy learners, who passed grade 12 with a certain number of points, so that their destitute nature will not deter them from positively contributing to the building of this nation and share in the fruits that acrues thereof.

The reason Germany ocupies a toop spot on the industrialisation charts is because they had true leaders who where genuinely intrested in the upliftment of their nation in every sense. German leaders placed overwhelming priority in the development of their vocational training cetres, which is by far the best to empower ordinary citizens. Vocational training equips the people the much needed technical ability to actualy produce something on your own. If the SWAPO leaders did the same immediately after indepentence, there would be no need to award all construction/building tenders to Chineese/North Korean Companies and Robbert & Murray. The apartheid regime did a good job by constructing a few vocational colleges, albeit training mostly only whites. When SWAPO took over in 1990, they where now supposed to build on these fundaments and cosidering our population, really take our nation on the next level( same with the primary and secondary education). But instead they ran down everything, for istance, the Ogongo Agricultural College which was one of the best of its kind in Southern Africa. Look at UNAM, our educational "flagship", needless to say, its in shambles.

Still need more proof? How about the much talked about health woes? How, on this green planet, can a serious leader fail to make sure that there are enough nurses and doctors for 1.9m people? I was left to rage & fume upon hearing, about 2 years ago, that a machine that is used in assisting heart patients at the Central hospital and which happened to be the only one in Namibia, was broken and patients had to wait for months for parts/components ordered from South Africa. Can you imagine that? The next thing you hear, we are constructing a railway to Oshikango.Our import/export industry especially to and fro Angola is so undeveloped that transport businesses who operate by road are bored by lack of activities. whre is the economic viability in the northern railway? Could it have waited until such time when we really have enough goods to transport using this mode of transportation, and therefore, sort out more pressing issues like back up power genrators and water tanks for hospitals?

If SWAPO leaders failed on these very important matters, only one conclusion can be drawn: They are INCOMPETENT!!! I know people don't like to hear that but I care very little bout that because I know its a fact.

I have to agree with most of the posting, albeit reluctantly at times. This "Lazarus" writes a lot of sense! You are dangerously close to idolising some of the European countries, but, it has been my experince, we do not want a shovel, a hammer, a pick axe, a saw! Getting one's hands dirty? That's a big no-no.

We want a cheap, easily obtainable certificate/degree and a cushy job with government - preferably one where we can still run some profitable sidelines, and, of course, either a BMW or a Mercedes Benz!