Updated 2025-02-12 17:45
Every year on the 9th of February, Namibia celebrates Constitution Day — a day to honour the supreme law that lays the foundation of our democratic state. It is a day to remind ourselves of the rights and freedoms enshrined in this living document — rights fought for, earned through struggle, and promised to all who call Namibia home.
But as the flags wave and the speeches echo with pride, I find myself wrestling with a question that grows louder each year:
Have we become a nation that celebrates rights more than we live out responsibilities?
Our Constitution guarantees us many things — dignity, freedom, equality, privacy, and protection. But for each right we hold, there is an equal and essential duty. Rights do not exist in a vacuum. They demand action, discipline, compassion, and above all, responsibility.
What follows is not just a reflection, but a reminder: if we want a better Namibia, we must stop thinking of citizenship as a set of entitlements — and start seeing it as a daily commitment to the common good.
What Does It Mean to Be a Good Citizen?
To be a good citizen is to live in such a way that your rights empower others, not just yourself. It means:
Recognising that your rights end where another person’s begin.
Thinking freely, but acting responsibly.
Creating value — for yourself, your family, and your community.
Understanding that financial independence is a form of national service:
“To produce wealth by labour and only by labour, and to spend less than you have produced, so that your children are not dependent on the state when you are no more.”
Protecting the lives of others through safe, thoughtful actions — on the road, in your home, at work.
Taking care of your own health through good habits, and not becoming a burden through preventable illnesses.
Treating service workers with kindness and dignity.
Questioning working conditions, especially when we benefit from others’ labour.
Paying fair wages — whether to the person cleaning your office or the one tending your garden.
Rejecting all forms of discrimination — based on race, gender, religion, ethnicity, or social class.
Respecting other people’s property, privacy, and boundaries — both physical and digital.
Building strong families rooted in love, respect, and responsibility.
Honouring your parents, supporting your elders, and strengthening family ties.
Seeing every child as your own — protecting, educating, and listening to them.
Living as a role model — not by perfection, but by consistently striving to treat others well.
Providing your children with the financial and emotional support they need to reach their full potential.
Constitutional Rights — and the Responsibilities They Demand
Let’s walk through some key constitutional rights, and the civic duties they imply for each of us:
Article 6 – Protection of Life
Right: Every Namibian has the right to life.
Responsibility:
Avoid actions that threaten others — whether through violence, neglect, or reckless behaviour.
Speak out and act when life is in danger, even if it’s inconvenient.
Article 7 – Protection of Liberty
Right: We are all entitled to freedom and security.
Responsibility:
Never bully, intimidate, or falsely imprison others.
Resolve conflict through dialogue, not violence.
Article 8 – Respect for Human Dignity
Right: Every individual is born with inherent dignity.
Responsibility:
Treat every person — no matter their status — with respect, warmth, and kindness.
Article 9 – Slavery and Forced Labour
Right: No one shall be subjected to forced labour or human trafficking.
Responsibility:
Refuse to benefit from exploitative labour — in business or at home.
Promote ethical work conditions and fair compensation.
Article 10 – Equality and Freedom from Discrimination
Right: All Namibians are equal before the law.
Responsibility:
Actively reject all forms of discrimination.
Defend the dignity and rights of others — even if their struggle is not your own.
Article 13 – Privacy
Right: Every Namibian has the right to privacy.
Responsibility:
Respect others’ personal information, correspondence, and choices.
Avoid gossip, doxxing, or spreading private content without consent.
Article 14 – Family
Right: The family is the cornerstone of society.
Responsibility:
Build families that nurture, protect, and uplift each member.
Support not just biological family, but chosen community too.
Article 15 – Children’s Rights
Right: Children are entitled to special protection, education, and care.
Responsibility:
Ensure that no child is neglected, abused, or deprived of opportunity.
Raise children to understand their rights and their duties.
A Closing Thought: Citizenship as a Two-Way Street
Too often, we speak of the Constitution as something that protects us from others — from government, employers, even our neighbours. But we forget that it also calls us toward others — to act, build, and protect the fabric of this nation.
We cannot keep asking, “What am I owed?”
We must also ask, “What do I owe?”
The promise of Namibia depends not just on its laws, but on its people — people who see the beauty in their rights, and the power of their responsibilities.
If you’ve read this far, I invite you to reflect and respond. Let’s keep this conversation going.
Email me at miltonlouw@gmail.com — I’d love to hear your thoughts.
— Milton Louw
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