The Citizen Informaticist: Empowering Lives Through Information Flow

Windhoek, Namibia – June 7, 2025 – Over a decade ago, on July 20, 2012, I coined a term that has since guided my life's purpose: Citizen Informaticist. It's more than just a title; it's a profound belief that the most effective way to improve the lives of citizens worldwide is by enhancing the flow of information.

This isn't just about data; it's about connecting people with what they need to thrive. It encompasses:

• Information about government services: Ensuring citizens know what's available to them and how to access it.
• Information about the citizen and their specific needs: Understanding individual requirements to deliver tailored and effective solutions.

My ultimate vision is a world where citizens are empowered to share information, fostering ethical leadershipeverywhere. For me, ethics are the fundamental values that guide our choices and actions – the very decisions that shape our lives and the course of our societies.

With this vision firmly in sight, my mission becomes clear:

“To develop the tools and systems that assist the management of countries – across government, civil society, and the private sector – in providing access to services and technologies, ensuring the maximum quality of life for all who live there.”

Once the vision and mission are defined, the path forward is to develop SMART objectives that bring this aspiration to fruition.

---

A Decade of Informatic Action: My Journey as a Citizen Informaticist

Looking back, it's evident that the principle of being a Citizen Informaticist has been the driving force behind much of my work over the past decade. Here are some key projects that embody this commitment:

1. Future Namibia (Book): This work highlighted a crucial form of discrimination: not just race, culture, gender, or geography, but the insidious barrier of unequal access to services and technology. It underscored the importance of information in bridging these divides.

2. Milton Louw Blogs: This platform has been instrumental in sharing my ideas on an empowered citizenry. It led to newspaper articles and television interviews, amplifying the message and reaching a broader audience.

3. Government of Namibia Blog: As a comprehensive directory, this initiative aimed to demystify government operations. It provided:

   • Contact details for ministers and directors.
   • Vision, mission, and objectives of ministries.
   • Strategic plans and focus areas.
   • Explanations of work processes.
   • Recent press releases and articles about ministries.

My current major undertaking continues this journey: co-authoring ”THE ETHICAL WAY TO WIN ELECTIONS: The Essential Guide to Building a Successful Value-based Campaign.” This book aims to provide practical guidance for ensuring that political leadership is rooted in strong ethical principles and serves the best interests of citizens.

---

The concept of a Citizen Informaticist is more relevant than ever in our increasingly connected world. It's about leveraging the power of information for the collective good.

Would you join me in becoming a Citizen Informaticist in your own country, working to empower your community through better information flow?

The Foundation of My Happiness: A Journey of Acceptance

My ability to perceive life positively isn't just a fleeting feeling; it's a mental attitude I've cultivated with considerable time and energy. You could even say there was a significant financial investment, though not from my own pocket, in reaching this place of contentment.

From a very young age, I was subjected to constant scrutiny, always being "prodded and poked" to ensure my well-being. This became particularly noticeable after my mother's passing when I was just five years old. I was incredibly fortunate that, after her table-tennis accident, she had enough time the following day to speak with me in the ambulance before being transferred to a hospital with better facilities. My mother had always instilled in me the belief that "God's will be done" and that accepting His path would always lead me where I needed to be. In that ambulance, she reiterated this profound message: to "heed God's will" and "accept what you are given in life."

This teaching resonated deeply, especially when coupled with the powerful promise from Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Throughout the years, I've navigated countless trials and tribulations—many of them, I admit, self-inflicted. Yet, this particular Bible verse remained a constant anchor, guiding me through every challenge.

And that, for me, is the essence of faith!

Implementing ICT Policy for the Benefit of Africans – A 2025 Perspective

This blog revisits my 2012 thoughts on ICT policy in Africa, originally shared in an application to the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) for the role of African ICT Policy Advocacy Coordinator. The issues are still urgent today—perhaps more than ever—as we move deeper into the digital age.

a) Why ICT Policy Still Demands Critical Attention in Africa

In 2025, the digital divide has become one of the most prominent forms of global inequality. While some African countries have made major strides—like Rwanda with its Smart Africa initiatives and Kenya’s digital economy push—many regions still lack basic access to reliable internet and digital infrastructure.

ICT policy isn’t just about internet connections. It’s about inclusion, education, governance, and innovation. It’s about ensuring that a farmer in rural Zambia, a student in Namibia, or a tech entrepreneur in Lagos all have equitable access to the digital tools needed to participate in the global economy.

In the same way that “Vorsprung durch Technik” implies progress through not just tools, but technique, Africa must focus on mastering digital skills alongside deploying infrastructure. This includes policy frameworks that nurture digital literacy, data privacy, access to AI and machine learning technologies, and inclusive e-governance.

b) Key Areas for Near-Future Intervention

1. Digital Literacy at the Foundation Level: We must integrate coding, media literacy, and critical internet skills into early education across the continent. In 2025, knowing how to code or use AI tools is as important as knowing how to read or write.

2. Decentralized Digital Infrastructure: Policies must support community-led internet initiatives like mesh networks and public access points, especially in under-served rural areas. An example is South Africa’s Zenzeleni Networks, a community-owned ISP.

3. Youth-Led ICT Action Groups (IAGs): I renew my call for ICT Action Groups reporting to high levels of government—perhaps directly to parliament or a digital cabinet ministry. These should be staffed by digitally fluent youth, including gamers, app developers, and online content creators.

4. AI and Data Governance: As generative AI tools (like ChatGPT or Sora) become more influential, African governments must build capacity to regulate AI ethics, protect data sovereignty, and support the use of local languages in AI development.

5. Content Creation and Digital Sovereignty: Promote African content on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter). Nigeria’s AltSchool Africa and Kenya’s iHub show how local innovation ecosystems can thrive with the right support.

6. National Open Data Platforms: Governments must open data sets to the public while ensuring privacy. Namibia’s planned National Digital Strategy is a step in this direction.

c) The Internet and Human Rights in 2025

Access to the internet is now widely recognized as a fundamental human right. The United Nations has reiterated this in numerous resolutions, including the 2021 UNHRC Resolution on the promotion, protection, and enjoyment of human rights on the internet.

Yet, millions in Africa remain excluded from these rights due to limited access or lack of digital education. We must rethink “the right to education” (as per Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) to include digital literacy and access to ICT—as essential as libraries, housing, and water.

In 2025, “reading, writing, and arithmetic” must now include code, collaboration, and critical thinking online. It is imperative that governments commit to:

“Developing the digital tools and systems to support the inclusive management of our countries—government, civil society, and the private sector—in delivering access to services and technologies that enable a high quality of life for all residents.”

---

Examples of Today’s Political ICT Action Groups

Several movements and political initiatives today reflect the ideas I envisioned in 2012:

• Kenya’s Ajira Digital Programme – Led by the Ministry of ICT to equip youth with digital skills for freelance jobs.

• Rwanda’s YouthConnekt – A platform empowering young people through ICT innovation and leadership.

• Smart Africa Alliance – A coalition of 39 African countries aiming to accelerate digital transformation across the continent, backed by heads of state.

• Namibia’s Fourth Industrial Revolution Taskforce – Which advises the presidency on AI, robotics, and digital infrastructure.

• DA’s Shadow Cabinet (South Africa) – Includes digital portfolios with a youth-oriented digital transformation strategy.

---

We are at a digital crossroads. With the right policies, Africa doesn’t need to play catch-up—it can lead.

---

“The Waters of Erongo” by Frederick Cornel translated by AI into Afrikaans

Noordoos van Swakopmund, naby die spoorlyn wat kopererts van Otavi af vervoer en waar die klein stasie Omaruru lê, styg ’n groep indrukwekkende tafelbergmassiewe uit die vlakte op. Destyds het hulle bekend gestaan as die Erongo-berge, vernoem na ’n bekende leier van die ǂGãinîn-Boesmans wat jare gelede sy laaste stand teen die binnetrekkende Damara gemaak het – ’n stryd wat hy en sy mense uiteindelik verloor het.

Selfs in ’n land waar baie berge plat koppe het, staan die Erongo uit. Niemand het dit ooit reggekry om tot bo te klim nie. Van onder af kan jy die digte plantegroei sien wat die onbereikbare top bedek, en op verskeie plekke stort watervalle teen die steil kranse af – asof die berg trane stort vir die verlede.

Daardie berg het my nog altyd fassineer. In die ou dae, nog voor die spoorlyn, het ons ons trekdiere by dié strome laat drink. Ek het ’n paar keer probeer klim – net om uit te vind hoe dit daar bo lyk. Maar ek het nooit naby gekom nie. Die laaste duisend voet is amper reguit krans. Jy sal ’n professionele rotsklimmer moet wees.

Op een van my laaste reise uit Kaokoland het ek en my ou ossewa net onder Erongo kamp opgeslaan. Ek onthou dit goed – die son het die rotse eers goud, toe rooi, toe pers en uiteindelik koue grys laat skyn. My hart was rustig. Ek het geweet: huis is naby.

My kok was ’n ou Engelse man, Jim Blake, wat jare gelede van sy skip in Walvisbaai af ontsnap het. Hy het Namibië beter geken as meeste, maar sy dik Cockney-aksent het altyd gebly. Jim was ’n moeilike ou met ’n groot mond en een irriterende gewoonte – hy het altyd gesê: “Jy weet nie alles nie, al dink jy jy doen.”

Daardie aand toe die osse klaar gedrink het, het ons langs die vuur gesit. Jim het opgedaag – vars gewas vir die eerste keer in weke. Sy vel was amper blink.

“Mooi, né?” het hy gesê.

“Pragtig,” het ek geantwoord. “Dis seker die mooiste berg in Afrika. Ek wonder nog altyd wat daar bo is. Maar niemand het dit al ooit uitgeklim nie.”

Jim trek sy wenkbroue op. “Jy weet nie alles nie, baas. Ek wás al bo.”

Ek lag. “Rubbish, Jim.”

Maar hy hou voet by stuk. “Ek sweer. Ek was daar. En dis nie net rots daar bo nie. Dis ’n wêreld – met gras, bome, vrugte, vlinders… En die fontein. Die bron self.”

Toe vertel hy my die storie. Hoe hy jare gelede saam met ’n snaakse professor en twee prospekteerders hier gekamp het. Die professor was obsessief oor jeug. Hy het elke dag gebad, geëet volgens reëls en elke grys haar probeer wegsteek. En toe kry hy malaria. Vir ’n paar dae was hy uitgeput, ongeskeer en oud.

Maar toe hy die Erongo sien, het hy opgewonde geraak: “Dis dalk die plek! Die fontein van jeug!”

Elke dag het hy hoër gestap, al verder teen die stroom op. Tot hy eendag verdwyn. Jim het hom opgespoor by die groot waterval – en kon hom skaars herken. Die ou man het soos ’n jongman gelyk. Energiek, sterk, met ’n blink gesig en helder oë.

Die professor het daarop aangedring dat Jim saam bad. “Dis die Bron van Lewe!” het hy geskree. “Kom! Word jonk! Bly hier saam met my!”

Maar Jim het nie. “Geen bier. Geen tabak. Geen vrouens – net waternimfe wat jou bespied? Nee dankie.”

Die professor was woedend. Maar uiteindelik het hy belowe om Jim weer af te dra. “Jy sal spyt wees,” het hy gesê.

En hy is nooit weer gesien nie. Niemand het hom geglo nie – hulle het gerapporteer dat hy dood is. Maar Jim glo anders. “Kyk daai rook daar bo,” het hy gesê. “Dis hy. Jy dink jy weet alles – maar jy weet nie.”

Die Waters van Erongo

In die droë vlaktes van Namibië, waar die Erongo-berge soos ou wagte oor die land waak, het die mense lankal begin vergeet van die spesiale water wat eens hul dorpe laat blom het.

Die water was nie net nat nie – dit was wysheid, geregtigheid en hoop. Dit het gevloei uit die harte van leiers wat vir die mense omgegee het, nie net vir hulself nie.

Maar toe het iets verander.

Die pype is begin buig na plekke waar net ’n paar mense toegang gehad het. Die water is verkoop aan die hoogste bieër. Die fonteine het stil geword in die dorpe waar kinders gespeel het en oumas stories vertel het.

Die mense het dorstig geword – nie net na water nie, maar na waarheid, na eerlikheid, na hoop.

En toe kom daar ’n jong vrou. Nie van adel nie, nie van geld nie – maar met ’n stem wat helder soos ’n fontein klank.

Sy het gepraat van ’n nuwe bron – nie een van korrupsie en vrees nie, maar een van eenheid. Sy het mense gevra om saam te werk, om terug te vat wat regverdig hulne is: die Water van Erongo.

Nie almal het haar geglo nie. Sommige het gelag. Ander was bang. Maar die kinders het geluister. Die werkers het begin droom. En van die berge tot by die duine het die ou lied van die water weer begin fluister.

“Waar daar geregtigheid is, daar vloei die water.”

 

Die Onafhanklike Kandidaat en die Dier van Ongelykheid

In ’n land van wye vlaktes en droë winde, het die mense lank gesukkel onder ’n regering wat net vir ’n paar gewerk het. Die gewone mense het harder en harder gewerk, maar het min gesien vir hul moeite. Intussen het die rykes en magtiges elke dag meer gekry.

Toe, op ’n dag, het ’n nuwe stem begin praat – nie uit ’n paleis of ’n groot kantoor nie, maar uit die strate en markplekke. Hierdie stem het aan die mense gesê: “Ek is net soos julle. Ek verstaan julle pyn. Ek is ’n onafhanklike kandidaat, en ek is hier om ’n verskil te maak.”

Die dier van ongelykheid – ’n groot, vet en selfvoldane dier – het probeer lag. “Niemand het al ooit vir my gekeer nie,” het hy gesê. “Ek groei van die verdeeldheid tussen mense. Ek floreer as net ’n paar ryk word en die res niks kry nie.”

Maar die onafhanklike kandidaat het nie teruggestaan nie. Hy het nie met geld of beloftes gekom nie – net met eerlikheid en ’n plan wat almal kon verstaan. Hy het gepraat oor skole wat werk, hospitale wat sorg, en werk wat vir almal betekenis het.

Die mense het begin luister. Eers stil-stil, toe harder. Hulle het begin hoop.

En toe het iets gebeur. Die dier van ongelykheid het begin krimp. Met elke nuwe stem wat sê “ek kies anders,” het hy kleiner geword. Stadig, maar seker, het mense begin saamwerk om ’n nuwe toekoms te bou.

Die onafhanklike kandidaat het dalk nie al die antwoorde gehad nie, maar hy het die regte vraag gevra: “Wat as ons saam werk?”

“The Waters of Erongo” by Frederick Cornel translated by AI into Oshiwambo

Omeva Yomutumba gwaErongo (Modern Version)

Omuholike:

Otandi ku lombwele kombinga yomulonga ogwa li pombepo lyomutumba gwaErongo.

Taya lombwela ombepo yoondjokonona, yomayele, neenghono.

Omutumba gwa li na omeya ogu otaya lombwela oya na omayele gokulongifa shili – otaya pula omulilo momeya ngoka. Onda popya naKatjikuru Jim, omukwahepo gwa ko Swakopmund. Katjikuru Jim omu na iha ningi. Omu na omayele. Nando osho a lombwela:

“Ame iha shi shi oshi shi shi shi…ngele shi shi shi shi shi shi shi.”

Onda hala oku holoka, ndee Jim a hokolola:

“You don’t know everything… if you think you do.”

Katjikuru Jim ta lombwela oshinima shokusimbula. Ayehe, a pula kombinga yomulonga ogu ya li moKatutura konima yomutumba.

Omu na okashona kamwe. Omuprofesa. Omuhepa noyakadhila, omuntu ngoka ta lombwele:

“I must stay young. Clean living. Or… maybe something more.”

Okashona taya hala oku pula okukala omupyakadhi. Ta li oshipopiwa: ta lwala, ta pula okushongwa.

Taya ti: omeya ogu– omeya gomutumba gwaErongo – owa mu ponokela.

Mbo, a londa omeya ngoka. A tameka okukala ta paka momeya ngoka. Uupi. Oshishi.

Ta tameka oku tala ngaashi omupyakadhi. Oshimpwiyu shoka osha lilile moKatjikuru Jim.

Jim ta popi:

“Nande. Omu li iha ningi. Kapena omeya ogu owa li na oshipwepo.”

“Nope,” omuprofesa ta popi. “This is it. I’m young again. I’m immortal!”

Katjikuru Jim ta lombwela oshowo ngaashi a yandja koshilalo.

Ta ka fike po komutumba gwoshinima. Omeya ogu tava fimbwa ngaashi Fanta. Onda lombwele!

Omuprofesa ta ti:

“Come, Jim. Washepo. You’ll live forever.”

Jim ta li:

“Kandi hole. Kapena omeya ogu oku fa. Ngoka oshi li nokulongifa shili.”

Omuprofesa ha tamele po. Nande a vulu oku uvuwa. Omeya ogu okwa mu ka.

Jim ta puka. Ngoka a li nokulongifa shili.

Omwa li meho.

Omeya ogu owa li mo.

Nando… oya li mo?

“You don’t know everything… if you think you do.”