Our Big Brother – South Africa

South Africa used to be our colonial master. The ant-apartheid struggle in South Africa was also our struggle. Many of us have family on both sides of the Orange River. We import most of our consumer goods from South Africa. Our money, the Namibian Dollar is directly equal to the Rand. All, but one, of our banks is South African owned. These are facts we must accept, there are the good, the bad and the difficult things in this relationship.

The Good
Namibia is a member of the oldest custom union in the world, namely the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU). The members are Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland and South Africa.

Being part of a customs union means that all goods brought into the Union will face the same amount of customs duty. More importantly, all goods produced by any member will not face duty when sold in one of the other member countries.

In effect this means a company can choose to produce in Durban, Port Elizabeth, Gaberone, or Oshakati and have the same access to all the consumers in our countries. The only difference is in the local labour or services, transport costs between markets, and the quality of life in each of these locations.

So, Namibia should have an active investment promotion policy to:
a) attract companies wishing to penetrate the southern African market; and
b) encourage South African companies to open factories in Namibia

To do this will mean preparing a comparison list to other localities in the region, and making sure we are the first choice in all regards. It is important to remember that all aspects, such as the quality of education available to children at the investment location, can be pivotal in decision-making by the management who have to relocate.

SO HOW BIG is the Namibian Market? The Namibian market consists of more than 200 million people – all residents of SACU are our market.

The Bad
Just like any big brother, South Africa can sometimes use its muscle to bully the smaller states in the Union. This can lead to companies “protecting” their markets by using dumping for example to prevent a business from being able to establish itself locally. Because of a larger range of products, companies can also insist retailers do not stock any of their competitor’s products. This has happened in the case of candles, toilet paper, cement, school desks, to name just a few.

Namibia must use the facility (already written in the SACU agreement) to protect its infant industries.

At the same time, I must warn about the measures sometimes used to protect local industries. In the early 1990’s the government enacted regulations to stop empty glass bottles from leaving Namibia. This was to protect our local Namibia Breweries. It was possibly a good measure, but inadvertently has led to a pollution problem. If you investigate any of the glass bottles being thrown away, you realise bottles are all from foreign bottlers. The reason, only Namibian Breweries offers a refund and reuses their bottles – the others cannot take the empties across the border.

The Difficult
Our dependence on South Africa also means that when something goes wrong there it affects us directly. If the World Cup is held in RSA, we receive indirect benefits, but when there is a political problem, we also receive the negative coverage.

The Leftist Capitalist

Start early life – short go through
Extreme hardship and good luck.
But still walk off the edge
Do something wrong

Get another chance – begin at the
Beginning – a place I knew
Still live large – larger than you
Can dream in a year – night after night

Have it bad – yet have it all
The most beautiful Girl in the world
I had not yet met
‘Material Girl’ was the way I judged

Didn’t go away – yet did study
Was against politics – what a fool
Became the best politician
Learning the dangers of the Gravy train
A goddess was given to me
To name as in the time of Adam
Thought I was god – Really messed up
That’s when I lost sight of reality

Cancer – was very lucky in the beginning
Understood that I had never been taught
Tried new things – became the boss
Resigned because of principles not Fortune

Ran away – luckily I had friends
People who at least made an effort
Got there made a home, without her
Missed them to much

Came back master of destiny
A phoenix arisen – to fly – Kalahari
Down to earth – working at night
Paper millionaires who cannot file

Was all I learnt a waste

No!

I grew up knowing nothing feeling hurt
Made to learn to appreciate
Thank you teachers one and all
From the first who loved me – till the last

Now I understand the burden
The one of the leftist capitalist

Get paid for what you do well
Neither under or over – charge
Earn fairly, pay slightly better
Enjoy the fruits of your labour
Yet bury the seeds.

By being happy that you are moneyed
You give back equally
Try to teach another, to be us lucky as You!

Thank you! Collette

Thank you for your wonderful (love) – letter,
I know no guy could have got a better
And it makes me doubly happy
Because you say you really do love me,
And I can say the same too
As I do really love you
Cause this feeling is really good
And this feeling is really good
And that’s the way it should

I love you plenty
And this is my way to say
I’m glad you love me
As I really do know so
And maybe together –one day – we’ll stay,
And I hope that you won’t then say no!

Your Love has shown me

I’ve been listening to “Love Notes”
And I realize they know what they are singing about
Because love is definitely a wonderful thing
This I know beyond a doubt
As your love has shown this to me.

I know they are singing from experience
But there’s still one thing bothering me,
And that’s that they thing of love as a “physical thing”
While I don’t think that’s really necessary,
As we seem to be getting along just fine
Without having to hop into bed
Because I know you are totally mine
Without this “proof of love”
And even though we come close,
I’m kind of glad we didn’t,
Even though I could have done with a dose
Of having your body joining with mine,
I know it would have been wrong
And this is my way of showing you.
My real reason for writing this song –
To tell you I really do need you
But, that I’d rather wait,
Until we are truly wed
But of late
I’ve been wondering again
And in the process nearly going insane
But I know we have been right
(Even though I’d still like to sleep with you at night)
As your love has show me the way,
And that’s the best, no matter what others have to say!

Proving our love

Last night we watched video’s till late
And soon as the others were gone
Neither of us could really wait
To jump into each others arms
Which proves to me really do love each other.

Chorus
Its real pity about what your family said –
They seem to have a funny idea in their heads
Which makes them think I’ve had you laid
But I realize we’ve got it made
Because even with this charge against me
We’ve stayed together see
To prove we really do love each other.

I’ve been close to other girls at times
And I’ve never been tempted away
Because it all seemed like mimes
When I’m not with you
Which proves to me I really do love you
Once, not so long ago
I tried to break away from you
But my heart said no, don’t go
Stay with this girl force you die
Which proves to me I really do love you.

Repeat chorus

Now you’ve taken me back
And I’m really glad
Because with me you’ve got a knack
To keep me forever happy
Which proves to me, you really do love me.

Doing it for you, Collette

My life has been turned upside down
As I never realized how much you love me
And now I know; I’m wearing a crown
And even though it’s made of thorns
I’ll still do it for you

At school, life is turning out funny
As they putting pressure on me
Thinking I was out just to get money
But even if I had the same choice again
I’ll still choose you forever.

Chorus
I’d love to start our friendship again
And this time I’m willing to listen
And even try acting a little sane
So I can keep you,
Cause all this I’ll do for you
As I know I love you Collette
And that’s something on which you can bet!

Now once more I’m getting lots of flak
Cause people think we don’t fit
And how you stuck me in my back
And our relationship has come to an end
But with you, I’m willing to try again

People often say I’m a Casanova
Just because I’ve know a lot of girls
But they’re all blown over
As I know what I want
And I know what I want
And you the one I’m trying to keep.

I want you!!

I wish I were older
So I could know just what to do
Because lately we’ve got a bolder
And now I feel my heart pounding
Cause I want to make love to you.

Sometimes I think maybe I’m just scared
But I want you to realize
I’m waiting till the day we wed
But sometimes I don’t think I can wait that long
Cause I want to make love to you.

The other day we were nearly caught
But I don’t think they’ll believe
That of that day came nought
So now I’m trying to cool down real fast
Cause I still want to make love to you

Having sex sound so crude
I try to think of it a little different
Just thinking of it as kind of nice with both of
us being nude
And now you have to give me a break
Cause I want to make love to you.


Looking at you naked gives me a chill
But we both know what’s right
And if you go on the pill
It’ll certainly change things
Cause I want to make love to you.