Showing posts with label namibia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label namibia. Show all posts
Friday, 4 December 2015
Simplifying elective methods will increase voter participation
Namibia held its Regional Council and Local Authority elections on 27th November 2015. Probably the biggest lesson for the country is that so few voters (less than 40%) bothered to participate even after it was declared a public holiday.
In the Regional Council election, each voter is expected to vote for an individual and it is easy for comparisons to be made between the individuals and the parties they represent. HOWEVER, our Local Authority elections are based on the party list system - and very few voters even know who the candidates are they are voting for when they press the button next to their party of choice.
Looking at the results from the Local Authority election, I am reminded of a quote from Henry George in 1833:
"Much, too, may be done to restrict the abuse of party machinery, and make the ballot the true expression of the will of the voter, by simplifying our elective methods. And a principle should always be kept in mind which we have largely ignored, that the people cannot manage details, nor intelligently choose more than a few officials. To call upon the average citizen to vote at each election for a long string of candidates, as to the majority of whom he can know nothing unless he makes a business of politics, is to relegate choice to nominating conventions and political rings. And to divide power is often to destroy responsibility, and to provoke, not to prevent, usurpation."
(usurpation = taking someone's power or property by force)
Namibia must start looking at a way of simplifying our elective methods. A good way to start is looking at a system of direct voting for representatives at the local authority. In this way the voter has an opportunity to know the individual that wishes to represent their area - and more importantly know where to take their complaints concerning the specific geographic area within the local authority.
Under the new electoral law, the mechanism of referendums can be used to get a "Yes" or "No" from voters on a specific issue. The ECN should use this mechanism to ask: "Should local authority elections be held on a ward system?"
Please note:
Referendums is logically preferable as a plural form meaning ballots on one issue (as a Latin gerund, referendum has no plural). The Latin plural gerundive referenda, meaning things to be referred, necessarily connotes a plurality of issues.
Thursday, 5 January 2012
The Dogg making racial jokes on Facebook
Facebook and social online media is today becoming a method of sharing our ideas with friends and relatives from all around the world, and all around our country too. It allows us to share our ideas, photos and private comments with each other and we know that our friends often think in the same wey that we do - that is after all why we are friends. Many of us do not think that our comments or posts should be considered public, or often consider that people we might not know can read our posts and judge us accoring to these comments.
Last night, 5 January 2012, I was rather saddened to read a post by one of our leading artists who has over 29,000 people following him on Facebook. The Dogg posted the following at around 20h00 on his fan page:
This is obviously a racial slur and can lead to a charge of racism. What was worse, was that as it was posted by the star many of his fans felt they too could comment and make even more outrageous comments making fun of other people whose parents were from different cultures or mixed races. It was particularly sad that these fans (many of them still youth and possibly born frees) did not realise their comments were racist and to be strongly condemned - even possibly having a criminal charges laid against them (and The Dogg).
I wish to urge our artists, and our fellow Namibians, to be careful of the things they write on facebook or any other social media. Not only are your comments racist and hurtful, but can, and should, lead to criminal charges of racism.
I hope that our people who make use of these tools think twice before making such comments, or even participating in such activities.
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Creating a common memory for Namibians
It is quite common to hear politicians admonoshing the white communities for not participating in natinal events. I am not a history buff, but have recently been talking about my student politics days and placed a few pohotos from this period.
It got me thinking about the participation of young people (white, coloured or black) and the following struck me in an article, "..But maybe memory is what young people need to be taught before they can be taught actual history."
So, I have started a small project to ensure that our common memory becomes available to our youth through the Wikipedia website. This site covers almost all areas of knowledge, but I found very little written about Namibia. While doing this I found that there were no templates on the languages or cultural identities of many of our peopls. I have started the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coloured_People_in_Namibia and hope to assist in developing similar sites about our common memories.
At the end of the project,I hope to create an SMS novella about certain historical events and peoplein Namibia.
If you have the timeand the inclination, feel free to assist.
Friday, 27 May 2011
Hermanus van Wyk: The ‘Biblical Moses’ of the Rehoboth Baster Community - by Shampapi Shiremo
New Era article
To many Namibians, the name Rehoboth sound too familiar because it is a well-known small town located about 90 Km south of Windhoek.
However, a closer look at the history of Rehoboth and the Baster Community who have settled in that area since around 1870, one would find that Rehoboth is a biblical name meaning ‘the promised land.’ Since ‘the promised land’ is what the Israelis who were moving out of Egyptian captivity wandered in desert for many years in order to get there, it is therefore likely that the history of Namibia’s Rehoboth have a similar narrative with the biblical Israelis whom Moses led.
However, unlike the biblical Moses who himself did not reach the ‘promised land’, Hermanus van Wyk did reach his after leading his people from the Cape Colony bondage.
In the 1983 publication entitled the ‘History Makers’, by Lester Venter, the biography of Kaptein Hermanus van Wyk was presented. Related to the Griqua of the Historical Adam Kok of the Cape Colony, the Baster Community also had origin in South Africa where they were mistreated by Dutch farmers in the area.
It was because of seeking freedom from the oppression of the Cape Colony, that the Ninety Baster families who looked to the bearded and patriarchal Hermanus van Wyk as their leader, in a Boer Trekkers style, decided to leave the Cape colony.
Originally, Hermanus van Wyk lived at Amandelboom, near Williston, in the mid 19 century. Shortly before 1868, Hermanus van Wyk and his community lived at a place called De Tuin in the Northern Cape. In 1868, they decided to leave De Tuin and cross the Orange River, going via Pella mission station. A missionary, Heidmann, travelled with them.
Lester Venter (1983) writes that it was at that time when the people started to call Van Wyk “Kaptein”. Two years later, they arrived at Berseba, where the trekking Baster families stayed for four months. Scouts were sent out and they saw the Rehoboth district, one of the most fertile areas of Namibia, which at the time was settled by the Swaartboois.
Thus, in 1870, during a Treaty signed at Okahandja between Kamaharero, Jan Jonker, Hermanus van Wyk accompanied by two elders, Piet Beukes and Paul Isaacs told the Herero and Nama Chiefs that he came there to let them know that he was seeking a place of abode.
Abraham Swaartbooi agreed to let the Baster community occupy Rehoboth for as long as the Swartboois did want it. An initial payment of eight Horses was made and the “rent” was fixed at one horse per year.
The ‘Baster Trekkers’ then moved from Berseba and arrived at Rehoboth in October 1870. Lester Venter (Ibid) writes that the Basters set about industriously, converting the region into a paradise they ordained to be theirs.
They improved the flow of water from the river, built houses and repaired the church that had been there. A small group went to the Cape to buy a stock of Merino sheep.
In 1872, the Baster community came up with a Constitution (aka Vaderlike Wette) in which Hermanus van Wyk was invested in the office of Kaptein. By 76, the approximately 800 people at Rehoboth owned some 20 000 sheep and between 2000 and 3000 cattle and horses.
It was for this reason that Kaptein Hermanus van Wyk wanted a speedy conclusion of the sale of Rehoboth by the Swartbooi reasoning further that they wanted to improve the channelling of water by blasting.
At this point Abraham Swartbooi was dragging his feet, saying that if it arose in future that he wanted to sell the land, he would give the Baster community the rights of first option at value set at £ 2750 to be paid in the form of 100 horses and five wagons.
Kaptein Swartbooi’s reluctance to put his proposal in writing necessitated Hermanus van Wyk to appeal through the missionary Hugo Hahn to W.C Palgrave, the Special Commissioner of the Cape Government.
In 1880, war broke out between the Nama and the Herero and the Baster community though hesitating to join the war, later on sided with Jan Jonker and Abraham Swartbooi in a Nama alliance against the Herero. This decision was only taken after the Herero attacked and killed a Baster traveller called McNab and other six Basters.
However, two years later and, in a turn of events, Jan Jonker and Abraham Swartbooi turned and attacked their allies, the Baster Community at Rehoboth, carrying off 500 cattle and 2000 small livestock.
The Basters, under Hermanus van Wyk fended off their enemy but suffered heavy losses. In the fight Swartbooi was wounded and later died. For the next two years, until 1884, Hermanus van Wyk made efforts to mediate between the Nama and the Herero, but with little success. During that time, the Swartboois reneged on their late leader, Kaptein Abraham Swartbooi of giving the right of first option to the Baster in the event of selling Rehoboth.
They sold it to a then well-known Cape coloured man namely, Willy Jordan, who wanted to settle the ‘Dorsland Trekkers’ there.
Before Jordan could put his plan into action, the Germans appeared on the scene, and they recognised the Basters as the rightful inhabitants and owners of Rehoboth and concluded a Protection treaty with them.
One would therefore understand that it was mainly for that reason that Hermanus van Wyk had sided with the Germans in the subsequent years, as the latter had helped the former to keep Rehoboth as his and his people’s place of abode.
Thus, the widely speculated notion that Hermanus van Wyk collaborated with the Germans even during the Herero-Nama against German colonialism of 1904-1908 needs to be placed in the right historical context. Lester Venter (ibid) concludes that little is recorded of the last years of Hermanus van Wyk. He died in Rehoboth in 1905, an aged and revered man, the founding father of Rehoboth.
To many Namibians, the name Rehoboth sound too familiar because it is a well-known small town located about 90 Km south of Windhoek.
However, a closer look at the history of Rehoboth and the Baster Community who have settled in that area since around 1870, one would find that Rehoboth is a biblical name meaning ‘the promised land.’ Since ‘the promised land’ is what the Israelis who were moving out of Egyptian captivity wandered in desert for many years in order to get there, it is therefore likely that the history of Namibia’s Rehoboth have a similar narrative with the biblical Israelis whom Moses led.
However, unlike the biblical Moses who himself did not reach the ‘promised land’, Hermanus van Wyk did reach his after leading his people from the Cape Colony bondage.
In the 1983 publication entitled the ‘History Makers’, by Lester Venter, the biography of Kaptein Hermanus van Wyk was presented. Related to the Griqua of the Historical Adam Kok of the Cape Colony, the Baster Community also had origin in South Africa where they were mistreated by Dutch farmers in the area.
It was because of seeking freedom from the oppression of the Cape Colony, that the Ninety Baster families who looked to the bearded and patriarchal Hermanus van Wyk as their leader, in a Boer Trekkers style, decided to leave the Cape colony.
Originally, Hermanus van Wyk lived at Amandelboom, near Williston, in the mid 19 century. Shortly before 1868, Hermanus van Wyk and his community lived at a place called De Tuin in the Northern Cape. In 1868, they decided to leave De Tuin and cross the Orange River, going via Pella mission station. A missionary, Heidmann, travelled with them.
Lester Venter (1983) writes that it was at that time when the people started to call Van Wyk “Kaptein”. Two years later, they arrived at Berseba, where the trekking Baster families stayed for four months. Scouts were sent out and they saw the Rehoboth district, one of the most fertile areas of Namibia, which at the time was settled by the Swaartboois.
Thus, in 1870, during a Treaty signed at Okahandja between Kamaharero, Jan Jonker, Hermanus van Wyk accompanied by two elders, Piet Beukes and Paul Isaacs told the Herero and Nama Chiefs that he came there to let them know that he was seeking a place of abode.
Abraham Swaartbooi agreed to let the Baster community occupy Rehoboth for as long as the Swartboois did want it. An initial payment of eight Horses was made and the “rent” was fixed at one horse per year.
The ‘Baster Trekkers’ then moved from Berseba and arrived at Rehoboth in October 1870. Lester Venter (Ibid) writes that the Basters set about industriously, converting the region into a paradise they ordained to be theirs.
They improved the flow of water from the river, built houses and repaired the church that had been there. A small group went to the Cape to buy a stock of Merino sheep.
In 1872, the Baster community came up with a Constitution (aka Vaderlike Wette) in which Hermanus van Wyk was invested in the office of Kaptein. By 76, the approximately 800 people at Rehoboth owned some 20 000 sheep and between 2000 and 3000 cattle and horses.
It was for this reason that Kaptein Hermanus van Wyk wanted a speedy conclusion of the sale of Rehoboth by the Swartbooi reasoning further that they wanted to improve the channelling of water by blasting.
At this point Abraham Swartbooi was dragging his feet, saying that if it arose in future that he wanted to sell the land, he would give the Baster community the rights of first option at value set at £ 2750 to be paid in the form of 100 horses and five wagons.
Kaptein Swartbooi’s reluctance to put his proposal in writing necessitated Hermanus van Wyk to appeal through the missionary Hugo Hahn to W.C Palgrave, the Special Commissioner of the Cape Government.
In 1880, war broke out between the Nama and the Herero and the Baster community though hesitating to join the war, later on sided with Jan Jonker and Abraham Swartbooi in a Nama alliance against the Herero. This decision was only taken after the Herero attacked and killed a Baster traveller called McNab and other six Basters.
However, two years later and, in a turn of events, Jan Jonker and Abraham Swartbooi turned and attacked their allies, the Baster Community at Rehoboth, carrying off 500 cattle and 2000 small livestock.
The Basters, under Hermanus van Wyk fended off their enemy but suffered heavy losses. In the fight Swartbooi was wounded and later died. For the next two years, until 1884, Hermanus van Wyk made efforts to mediate between the Nama and the Herero, but with little success. During that time, the Swartboois reneged on their late leader, Kaptein Abraham Swartbooi of giving the right of first option to the Baster in the event of selling Rehoboth.
They sold it to a then well-known Cape coloured man namely, Willy Jordan, who wanted to settle the ‘Dorsland Trekkers’ there.
Before Jordan could put his plan into action, the Germans appeared on the scene, and they recognised the Basters as the rightful inhabitants and owners of Rehoboth and concluded a Protection treaty with them.
One would therefore understand that it was mainly for that reason that Hermanus van Wyk had sided with the Germans in the subsequent years, as the latter had helped the former to keep Rehoboth as his and his people’s place of abode.
Thus, the widely speculated notion that Hermanus van Wyk collaborated with the Germans even during the Herero-Nama against German colonialism of 1904-1908 needs to be placed in the right historical context. Lester Venter (ibid) concludes that little is recorded of the last years of Hermanus van Wyk. He died in Rehoboth in 1905, an aged and revered man, the founding father of Rehoboth.
Friday, 20 May 2011
Future Namibia - Foreword by Andimba Toivo ya Toivo
I feel very much honored to be asked to write a foreword to this book by a political and economic researcher about our country and our times. The author of this book has spent many years studying the political and economic set up of our country. In my opinion, he has come up with many constructive ideas that can contribute to Namibia`s development.
During the liberation struggle, we were building our sand castles and dreaming of how we wanted an independent Namibia to be. After we took the reins of power, we realized that it was not so easy to realize our dreams. It became apparent that even if the leaders of the government have good ideas, they cannot implement programmes and projects alone, but must rely on the commitment of civil servants to work in the interest of the Namibian people. As we set about to transform a system that has been based upon apartheid and colonialism, we were also challenged to transform the thinking of some staunch supporters of the old regime whom we had inherited as civil servants. These were not easy tasks, and we undoubtedly made mistakes. This was to be expected, because in life, one cannot completely avoid mistakes, and as politicians, we had no formula for how to build a prosperous and stable new nation.
One of our biggest shortcomings is that we have not been able to develop our economy to provide sufficient employment opportunities for our young people. It is pathetic to drive around the streets and to see young people standing along the side of the road from early morning, waiting for a Good Samaritan to give them any type of work. It is also disturbing that even some young people who have obtained university qualifications, either in Namibia or abroad, are not productively employed.
We know that this problem cannot be solved simply be ensuring that employers have capital and equipment to build their businesses. Their business cannot grow without appropriately-skilled workers. It is obvious that we must think “out of the box” and test new solutions to the problems of unemployment and underdevelopment in order to eradicate the plague of poverty in a country that has every possibility of becoming prosperous.
Fortunately, we have intellectuals outside the government who follow national developments closely and with a critical eye. The author of this book is one such person. Milton Louw has been observing and studying the progress made by political leaders of our country and has now come forward to share his insights and recommendations for governance, economic and social development and for how to avoid mistakes in the future. I am proud that we have Namibians who have the courage and the discipline to develop their ideas and to bring them to a public arena for consideration. I am
particularly impressed that Mr. Louw has made proposals for: greater transparency in governance; education of young people in morality and ethical behavior; expansion of consumer rights; promotion of information and communications technology; measures to nurture entrepreneurism and to support business development; and strengthened social protection of vulnerable people. Because he is outside government, he may not be aware that some of his proposals are similar to government initiatives already in operation or in preparation.
We need not agree with every aspect of Mr. Louw`s broad-ranging analysis or with all his proposals in order to benefit from his ideas. I recommend that readers, including present and future political leaders, consider his ideas in the open manner that he has presented them. I hope that this will encourage more Namibians to bring to the public their ideas and proposals for how to better build our nation, through writing books and opinion articles and through scholarly research.
I commend Milton Louw for his efforts and hope that many will follow his example.
Andimba Toivo ya Toivo
13 May 2011
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Charlotte's Guest House - managed living
I have just returned to Windhoek, Namibia and am happy to be home. I have been looking for a managed apartment or guest house environment where I do not have to worry about meals, washing or even security. I have found such a place in Charlotte's Guest House.
Charlotte's Guest Home is a stately and luxurious home away from home situated in the heart of Namibia’s capital city, Windhoek. The guest house offers guests quality bed and breakfast or self-catering accommodation options in tastefully decorated rooms with a range of activities for guests to enjoy in the area.
It is run by Mr Aziz Kyababa and his wife and its truly a home for me.
If you are single (or divorced) try a managed apartment environment - it gives you the freedom of movement, with the feeling of home.
Charlotte's Guest Home is a stately and luxurious home away from home situated in the heart of Namibia’s capital city, Windhoek. The guest house offers guests quality bed and breakfast or self-catering accommodation options in tastefully decorated rooms with a range of activities for guests to enjoy in the area.
It is run by Mr Aziz Kyababa and his wife and its truly a home for me.
If you are single (or divorced) try a managed apartment environment - it gives you the freedom of movement, with the feeling of home.
Thursday, 21 April 2011
List of Namibian bloggers / 2011
A list of Namibian bloggers which I hope to expand with your help.
- Change your life
- Creating Wealth
- Daves Boring Blog
- Dune Sieben (German)
- End forced Sterilisation
- Frantic Naturalist
- Girl Uncovered
- I present Roxanne
- Making a better Namibia
- Namibian DJ|s
- Namibia Facts
- Namibia Welcome
- One Stoned Crow
- The Joys Of My Splintered Life In SMALLTOWN
- Vakwetu Style
- Vieranas Safaris
- the new Der/die/das Namibia/er auf Deutsch
- Sinisterstuf
Thanks
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Internal Struggle for Namibia's Independence - 1985-1989
During the 1980's the battle for the hearts of the Namibian people was being fought. The PLAN combatants were waging war with their Angolan, Cuban and Russian allies, but this was taking place outside the borders of the country. Inside the country, the battle was in the form of protest and civil disobedience.
The internal struggle included famous Namibians such as Hendrik Witbooi, Danny Tjongarero, Niko Bessinger, Anton Lubowski, John Pandeni and Ben Ulenga. They were harassed, beaten and arrested continuously by the South African regime.
The internal struggle included famous Namibians such as Hendrik Witbooi, Danny Tjongarero, Niko Bessinger, Anton Lubowski, John Pandeni and Ben Ulenga. They were harassed, beaten and arrested continuously by the South African regime.
However, the regime felt it was winning. They had created ethnic authorities and many of these leaders had convinced the people of the need for managed democracy versus the communist take-over by SWAPO.
All that changed when the students started participating in the struggle. In 1987 the police were unable to control and prevent the students from running through Katutura and Khomasdal, with some of the marchers reaching the central business district. By mid 1988, the South African regime and their puppet government was losing control. Over 75 000 school students were boycotting schools throughout the country in protest at the South African army and police repressions. The boycotts began at the Ponhofi Secondary School in Ovamboland.
Laws such as the Protection of Fundamental Rights Act (No. 16 of 88) were being used to prevent the gathering of any kind. This specific law was contested by the Namibian National Students Organisation and others and was found to be unconstitutional. This legal battle is still used around the world when discussing human rights as it "creates criminal offences for activities which in democratic societies have been perfectly acceptable and legal."[i]
In legal literature, "The period of 1985 to Independence ... an historical prelude because it arguably sets the stage for the constitutional development that followed Independence."[ii]
Unfortunately, this internal struggle for Independence has largely been neglected. This publication is a first step in bringing this story into the common memory of all Namibians.
http://www.scribd.com/full/52317421?access_key=key-1su694cazh8mkmptl651
Photo album of photos from the 1987/8 student unrest in Namibia
Comments collected during the two weeks of 21 March - 1 April 2011 via Facebook.
All photographs courtesy of John Liebenberg.
[i] Namibia National Students' Organisation & Others v Speaker of the National Assembly for South West Africa 1990 (1) SA 617 SWA, at 627.
[ii] Constitutional jurisprudence in Namibia since Independence - George Coleman and Esi Schimming-Chase
All that changed when the students started participating in the struggle. In 1987 the police were unable to control and prevent the students from running through Katutura and Khomasdal, with some of the marchers reaching the central business district. By mid 1988, the South African regime and their puppet government was losing control. Over 75 000 school students were boycotting schools throughout the country in protest at the South African army and police repressions. The boycotts began at the Ponhofi Secondary School in Ovamboland.
Laws such as the Protection of Fundamental Rights Act (No. 16 of 88) were being used to prevent the gathering of any kind. This specific law was contested by the Namibian National Students Organisation and others and was found to be unconstitutional. This legal battle is still used around the world when discussing human rights as it "creates criminal offences for activities which in democratic societies have been perfectly acceptable and legal."[i]
In legal literature, "The period of 1985 to Independence ... an historical prelude because it arguably sets the stage for the constitutional development that followed Independence."[ii]
Unfortunately, this internal struggle for Independence has largely been neglected. This publication is a first step in bringing this story into the common memory of all Namibians.
http://www.scribd.com/full/52317421?access_key=key-1su694cazh8mkmptl651
Photo album of photos from the 1987/8 student unrest in Namibia
Comments collected during the two weeks of 21 March - 1 April 2011 via Facebook.
All photographs courtesy of John Liebenberg.
[i] Namibia National Students' Organisation & Others v Speaker of the National Assembly for South West Africa 1990 (1) SA 617 SWA, at 627.
[ii] Constitutional jurisprudence in Namibia since Independence - George Coleman and Esi Schimming-Chase
Friday, 8 April 2011
Open Letter to Robin Sherbourne / Nedbank Namibia & Old Mutual Namibia - No. 2
This week I sent out an email about an email between myself and Messr. Sherbourne of Nedbank. I though I should just explain why I felt it to be a remark based on racial stereotyping.
_____________________________________________________
This week, once again it has been proved that we need to have a system that forces the white-owned financial institutions to make decisions that are not based on the race or gender of a person.
Mr Robin Sherbourne, Economist of Nedbank, replied to my email:
Please stop sending me emails. The IPPR is still trying to recover money you owe us from 2004. I can’t believe how duplicitous you have been yet you have the nerve to write about ethics and helping SMEs – unbelievable! You give BEE a bad name.
It is true that I have a default judgement against me for a business transaction I was involved in. (more on my blog at http://milton-louw.blogspot.com/2011/04/open-letter-to-robin-sherbourne-nedbank.html).
The fact of the matter is that in South Africa I am registered as a white male and do not qualify for black economic empowerment (where BEE is the law).
What could the statement "... you give black economic empowerment a bad name"? Putting that as a statement after referring to my bad debt must mean that my bad credit has something to do with his perception of my race.
This is exactly why I believe we need a credit register in Namibia that does not allow an individual to make credit decisions based on their own assumptions.
Kind regards
Milton Louw
Debtor
Thursday, 7 April 2011
Namibia Home Affairs Application Forms
All Namibian and visitors know what a hassle it is to collect application from Home Affairs. Now a collection of these forms are available.
Just visit Milton Louw's Blog and all the forms can be downloaded from a list on the left.
Just another service to keep "Namibia -the smile on the face of Africa."
Monday, 4 April 2011
Google Science Fair: Calling All Jr. Scientists
Google is looking for bright youngsters (aged 13 - 18) from around the world to submit interesting and creative Science projects that are relevant to the world today.
It would be fantastic to see a Namibian student emerging as one of the 15 finalists who each get
If I was still in high-school, I'd be scheming to win this thing.
For more information, check out the Google Science Fair website.
It would be fantastic to see a Namibian student emerging as one of the 15 finalists who each get
- a $25 000 scholarship,
- An internship (at CERN, Google or Scientific American)
- personalized Lego kits
- Digital Access to Scientific American for their school
If I was still in high-school, I'd be scheming to win this thing.
For more information, check out the Google Science Fair website.
Friday, 1 April 2011
NGO'S need to be regulated in Namibia
There was a proliferation of NGO’s created during the pre-Independence and immediately thereafter. They are involved in business development, cultural groups, agriculture, Aids, etc. They include international organisations such as the Red Cross, or local chapters of internationally accepted bodies such as the Namibian Society for Human Rights (NSHR). Local NGO’s can work at gender issues such as the Women’s Action for Development (WAD), or animal rights such as the SPCA. They also include a variety of welfare organisations such as the Blood transfusion service or industry interests such as the NCCI or ICT Alliance.
While most NGO’s are doing a good job in Namibia, unfortunately, some have not. They have abused their mandate or become a vehicle for an individual who is seen as the driving force or even “responsible for the success of the organisation”. This leads to the next question, “How do we distinguish between a good and bad NGO?”
The following questions provide us with a litmus test:
• Are their financial statements open for scrutiny?
• What percentage of their budget is spent on salaries and perks for the organisations employees?
• What part of the budget is contributed by governments, directly or indirectly?
• How many of the NGO's operatives are in the field, catering to the needs of the NGO's ostensible constituents?
• Which part of the budget is spent on furthering the aims of the NGO and on implementing its promulgated programs?
I suggest that we have Non-Government Organisation Bill. In this Bill should be addressed the issues of mandate and good governance, and the mechanisms in the case of abuse. It should include a restraint on creation of new frequently unnecessary NGOs (that are mostly more helpful to the creators of the NGO than the people they are designed to serve).
While most NGO’s are doing a good job in Namibia, unfortunately, some have not. They have abused their mandate or become a vehicle for an individual who is seen as the driving force or even “responsible for the success of the organisation”. This leads to the next question, “How do we distinguish between a good and bad NGO?”
The following questions provide us with a litmus test:
• Are their financial statements open for scrutiny?
• What percentage of their budget is spent on salaries and perks for the organisations employees?
• What part of the budget is contributed by governments, directly or indirectly?
• How many of the NGO's operatives are in the field, catering to the needs of the NGO's ostensible constituents?
• Which part of the budget is spent on furthering the aims of the NGO and on implementing its promulgated programs?
I suggest that we have Non-Government Organisation Bill. In this Bill should be addressed the issues of mandate and good governance, and the mechanisms in the case of abuse. It should include a restraint on creation of new frequently unnecessary NGOs (that are mostly more helpful to the creators of the NGO than the people they are designed to serve).
Statistics for Namibian websites -1 April 2011
This no April Fool's Joke
What are the most popular sites in Namibia (.na domain)?
What are the values of some of these website?
1. www.bankwindhoek.com.na , Points: 9.04212
2. www.bankwindhoekarts.com.na Points: 8.93036
3. www.grnnet.gov.na Points: 8.34682
4. www.namibiatourism.com.na Points: 5.22759
5. www.met.gov.na , Points: 5.02721
6. www.interact.com.na Points: 3.61174
7. library.unam.na Points: 3.22020
8. www.tasa.na Points: 3.00227
9. www.taleni.com.na Points: 2.96004
10. www.airnamibia.com.na Points: 2.89882
11. www.nied.edu.na Points: 2.60780
12. www.internet.na , Points: 2.58421
13. www.oasys.com.na , Points: 2.51922
14. www.nnf.org.na , Points: 2.20978
15. www.sysex.com.na Points: 2.19372
16. millennium.unam.na Points: 2.12801
17. wwwisis.unam.na Points: 2.12801
18. www.e-tourism.com.na Points: 1.96130
19. www.npc.gov.na Points: 1.85357
20. www.parliament.gov.na Points: 1.64096
21. www.nwr.com.na , Points: 1.61660
22. www.immersion.com.na Points: 1.53357
23. www.namibian.com.na , Points: 1.50227
24. www.span.org.na , Points: 1.49141
25. www.schoemans.com.na Points: 1.44968
26. www.newera.com.na Points: 1.41717
27. www.africaonline.com.na , Points: 1.29728
28. www.nacobta.com.na Points: 1.29211
29. www.schoolnet.na Points: 1.21311
30. www.rcchurch.na , Points: 1.08497
31. www.uunet.com.na , Points: 1.08346
32. www.desertexpress.com.na , Points: 1.08346
33. www.nammic.com.na Points: 1.06024
34. www.un.na , Points: 1.05882
35. www.holidaytravel.com.na , Points: 1.04173
36. www.bon.com.na , Points: 1.03112
37. www.edsnet.na , Points: 1.00446
38. www.hansahotel.com.na , Points: 1.00000
39. www.intenet.na Points: 1.00000
40. www.itd.com.na Points: 1.00000
41. www.verizonbusiness.com.na Points: 1.00000
42. www.discoveryskills.com.na Points: 0.96273
43. www.cecsnamibia.com.na Points: 0.96273
44. www.polytechnic.edu.na , Points: 0.88291
45. www.caa.org.na , Points: 0.85714
46. www.meatco.com.na , Points: 0.81024
47. www.republikein.com.na , Points: 0.79804
48. www.unam.na , Points: 0.73375
49. www.mfmr.gov.na , Points: 0.71637
50. www.az.com.na , Points: 0.66767
51. www.namweb.com.na , Points: 0.66666
52. www.namfisa.com.na Points: 0.55555
53. www.renaissance.com.na Points: 0.54629
54. www.swakopmund-museum.org.na Points: 0.53176
55. www.huntnamibia.com.na Points: 0.50000
56. www.oanob.com.na Points: 0.50000
57. www.vieranasbowhunt.com.na , Points: 0.50000
58. www.benefit.org.na , Points: 0.49003
59. www.economist.com.na Points: 0.45902
60. www.natmus.cul.na , Points: 0.41729
61. www.agra.com.na Points: 0.41679
62. www.proteawalvis.com.na , Points: 0.40657
63. www.seasidegroup.com.na Points: 0.40657
64. www.hans-kriess.com.na Points: 0.40657
65. www.ovisume.com.na Points: 0.40657
66. www.blueskynamibia.com.na , Points: 0.40657
67. www.secretgarden.com.na Points: 0.40657
68. www.swartfontein.com.na Points: 0.40657
69. www.palmwag.com.na Points: 0.40657
70. www.littlesossus.com.na Points: 0.40657
71. www.nsx.com.na Points: 0.39211
72. www.mweb.com.na Points: 0.38074
73. www.agrinamibia.com.na Points: 0.37506
74. www.telepassport.com.na , Points: 0.33384
75. www.library.unam.na Points: 0.33333
76. www.ncc.org.na Points: 0.31976
77. www.fnbnamibia.com.na Points: 0.30865
78. www.radiowave.com.na Points: 0.29211
79. www.lac.org.na Points: 0.29211
80. www.windhoekcc.org.na Points: 0.29211
81. www.nampost.com.na , Points: 0.29211
82. www.nepru.org.na , Points: 0.29173
83. www.sindana.com.na Points: 0.29166
84. www.mme.gov.na Points: 0.27803
85. www.opm.gov.na Points: 0.26065
86. www.iway.com.na Points: 0.25555
87. www.cyberhost.com.na Points: 0.25555
88. www.radiokudu.com.na , Points: 0.25038
89. www.birdwatching.com.na , Points: 0.25038
90. www.campingcarhire.com.na , Points: 0.25038
91. www.scsi.com.na Points: 0.25000
92. www.c-bank.com.na Points: 0.22519
93. www.myproperty.com.na Points: 0.20865
94. www.rfsol.com.na Points: 0.20000
95. www.finland.org.na , Points: 0.19457
96. www.gsn.gov.na , Points: 0.19127
97. www.standardbank.com.na Points: 0.18346
98. www.drfn.org.na Points: 0.16692
99. www.larri.com.na , Points: 0.16679
100. www.stpaulscollege.edu.na Points: 0.14285
101. www.nbc.com.na , Points: 0.12519
102. www.mtc.com.na , Points: 0.12519
103. www.namibsunhotels.com.na , Points: 0.12519
104. www.tourism.com.na Points: 0.12519
105. www.nels-estates.com.na Points: 0.12519
106. www.camelcarhire.com.na , Points: 0.12519
107. www.nse.com.na Points: 0.12519
108. www.discover-africa.com.na Points: 0.12519
109. www.namibiasport.com.na Points: 0.12519
110. www.insight.com.na Points: 0.12519
111. www.mgecw.gov.na Points: 0.11111
112. www.namcol.com.na Points: 0.11111
113. www.nta.com.na Points: 0.11111
114. www.polytecnic.edu.na Points: 0.11111
115. www.nampower.com.na Points: 0.10781
116. www.burmeister.com.na Points: 0.10781
117. www.ecb.org.na , Points: 0.10781
118. www.mfa.gov.na Points: 0.10781
119. www.mod.gov.na , Points: 0.10781
120. www.sanlam.com.na Points: 0.10000
121. www.oldmutual.com.na Points: 0.10000
122. www.ictalliance.org.na Points: 0.08346
123. www.ats.com.na Points: 0.08346
124. www.iwwn.com.na Points: 0.08346
125. www.travelnews.com.na Points: 0.08346
126. www.worldsbiggestbraai.com.na Points: 0.08346
127. www.pembrokefarmstay.co.na Points: 0.08346
128. www.tasa.com.na Points: 0.08346
129. www.archery.com.na Points: 0.08346
130. www.lianshulu.com.na , Points: 0.08346
131. www.gruenental.com.na Points: 0.08346
132. www.safarihotel.com.na , Points: 0.08346
133. www.hampidjan.na Points: 0.08346
134. www.chamberofmines.org.na Points: 0.08346
135. www.ishltd.com.na Points: 0.08346
136. www.tradedirectory.com.na , Points: 0.08346
137. www.transnamib.com.na Points: 0.08346
138. www.cymot.com.na , Points: 0.08346
139. www.iit.com.na Points: 0.08346
140. www.napwu.org.na Points: 0.08333
141. www.renaissancehealth.com.na Points: 0.08333
142. www.legalshield.com.na Points: 0.08333
143. www.mrlgh.gov.na , Points: 0.06608
144. www.mti.gov.na , Points: 0.06608
145. www.namcor.com.na , Points: 0.06608
146. www.ongopolo.com.na Points: 0.06608
147. www.skydiveswakop.com.na Points: 0.04347
148. www.ndc.org.na Points: 0.04173
149. www.namprop.com.na Points: 0.04173
150. www.swasafaris.com.na , Points: 0.04173
151. www.lisse.na Points: 0.04173
152. www.das.com.na , Points: 0.04173
153. www.namibia.com.na Points: 0.04173
154. www.yellowlink.com.na Points: 0.04173
155. www.hsf.org.na Points: 0.04173
156. www.mac.com.na , Points: 0.04173
157. www.kessler.com.na , Points: 0.04173
158. www.ict.com.na Points: 0.04173
159. www.icl.com.na Points: 0.04173
160. www.elwiwa.com.na Points: 0.04173
161. www.conferencelink.com.na Points: 0.04173
162. www.srin.org.na Points: 0.04173
163. www.quantum.com.na Points: 0.04173
164. www.kumkum.com.na Points: 0.04173
165. www.corporatetraining.com.na , Points: 0.04173
166. www.cds-isis.org.na Points: 0.04173
167. www.ombudsman.org.na Points: 0.04173
168. www.usemb.org.na Points: 0.04173
169. www.airports.com.na Points: 0.04173
170. www.pleasureflights.com.na , Points: 0.04173
171. www.tgi.na Points: 0.04173
172. iafrica.com.na Points: 0.04173
173. www.beachlodge.com.na , Points: 0.04173
174. www.arc.org.na Points: 0.04173
175. www.unisob.na Points: 0.04173
176. www.gazza.com.na Points: 0.04173
177. www.southerntimes.com.na Points: 0.04173
178. www.ascend.com.na Points: 0.04173
179. www.safariland.com.na Points: 0.04173
180. www.sps.com.na Points: 0.04173
181. www.travel.com.na , Points: 0.04173
182. www.nampharmfoundation.org.na Points: 0.04173
183. www.tech.na Points: 0.04173
184. www.nangof.org.na Points: 0.04173
185. www.google.com.na , Points: 0.04173
186. www.westwing.com.na Points: 0.04173
187. www.ngkn.com.na Points: 0.04173
188. www.realestates.com.na Points: 0.04173
189. www.dbn.com.na Points: 0.04173
190. www.echo-line.com.na Points: 0.04173
191. www.nab.com.na Points: 0.04173
192. www.nda.org.na Points: 0.04173
193. www.treasuretrail.com.na Points: 0.04173
194. www.pwcglobal.com.na Points: 0.04173
195. www.search.na , Points: 0.04173
196. www.namibiatoday.com.na Points: 0.04173
197. www.apple.com.na Points: 0.04173
198. www.omulunga.com.na Points: 0.04173
199. www.plus.com.na Points: 0.04173
200. www.peace.org.na , Points: 0.04173
201. www.nampharm.com.na Points: 0.04173
202. www.khanrivier.com.na Points: 0.04173
203. www.cybertech.com.na Points: 0.04173
204. burmeister.com.na Points: 0.04173
205. www.iafrica.com.na , Points: 0.04173
206. www.jeeprent.com.na Points: 0.04173
207. www.nca.com.na Points: 0.04173
208. www.nru.com.na Points: 0.04173
209. www.novaship.com.na Points: 0.04173
210. www.namibtimes.com.na Points: 0.04173
211. www.rhino-trust.org.na Points: 0.04173
212. www.royaltours.com.na Points: 0.04173
213. www.golfsafariafrica.com.na Points: 0.04173
214. www.epupa.com.na Points: 0.04173
215. www.namibiaresorts.com.na Points: 0.04173
216. www.otjiruze.com.na Points: 0.04173
217. www.pqnamibia.com.na Points: 0.04173
218. www.walvisbay.com.na Points: 0.04173
219. www.democracy.org.na Points: 0.04173
220. www.ippr.org.na Points: 0.04173
221. www.nid.org.na Points: 0.04173
222. www.usaid.org.na Points: 0.04173
223. www.performateq.com.na Points: 0.04173
224. www.omatieketourism.com.na Points: 0.04173
225. www.biodiversity.org.na Points: 0.04173
226. www.fishermanslodge.com.na , Points: 0.04173
227. www.namibian.co.na Points: 0.04173
Site valuations
Google.com - Estimated Value: $2,498,469,497.85 USD
Google.com.na - Estimated Value: $167,705.03 USD
Republikein.com.na- Estimated Value: $11,665.28 USD
Namibian.org (carboard box namibia) - Estimated Value: $8,763.27 USD
iNamibia.co.na - Estimated Value: $7,082.03 USD
Hellonam.com - Estimated Value: $2,941.90 USD
Namibiansun.com - Estimated Value: $977.40 USD
Interact.com.na - Estimated Value: $291.06 USD
What are the most popular sites in Namibia (.na domain)?
What are the values of some of these website?
1. www.bankwindhoek.com.na , Points: 9.04212
2. www.bankwindhoekarts.com.na Points: 8.93036
3. www.grnnet.gov.na Points: 8.34682
4. www.namibiatourism.com.na Points: 5.22759
5. www.met.gov.na , Points: 5.02721
6. www.interact.com.na Points: 3.61174
7. library.unam.na Points: 3.22020
8. www.tasa.na Points: 3.00227
9. www.taleni.com.na Points: 2.96004
10. www.airnamibia.com.na Points: 2.89882
11. www.nied.edu.na Points: 2.60780
12. www.internet.na , Points: 2.58421
13. www.oasys.com.na , Points: 2.51922
14. www.nnf.org.na , Points: 2.20978
15. www.sysex.com.na Points: 2.19372
16. millennium.unam.na Points: 2.12801
17. wwwisis.unam.na Points: 2.12801
18. www.e-tourism.com.na Points: 1.96130
19. www.npc.gov.na Points: 1.85357
20. www.parliament.gov.na Points: 1.64096
21. www.nwr.com.na , Points: 1.61660
22. www.immersion.com.na Points: 1.53357
23. www.namibian.com.na , Points: 1.50227
24. www.span.org.na , Points: 1.49141
25. www.schoemans.com.na Points: 1.44968
26. www.newera.com.na Points: 1.41717
27. www.africaonline.com.na , Points: 1.29728
28. www.nacobta.com.na Points: 1.29211
29. www.schoolnet.na Points: 1.21311
30. www.rcchurch.na , Points: 1.08497
31. www.uunet.com.na , Points: 1.08346
32. www.desertexpress.com.na , Points: 1.08346
33. www.nammic.com.na Points: 1.06024
34. www.un.na , Points: 1.05882
35. www.holidaytravel.com.na , Points: 1.04173
36. www.bon.com.na , Points: 1.03112
37. www.edsnet.na , Points: 1.00446
38. www.hansahotel.com.na , Points: 1.00000
39. www.intenet.na Points: 1.00000
40. www.itd.com.na Points: 1.00000
41. www.verizonbusiness.com.na Points: 1.00000
42. www.discoveryskills.com.na Points: 0.96273
43. www.cecsnamibia.com.na Points: 0.96273
44. www.polytechnic.edu.na , Points: 0.88291
45. www.caa.org.na , Points: 0.85714
46. www.meatco.com.na , Points: 0.81024
47. www.republikein.com.na , Points: 0.79804
48. www.unam.na , Points: 0.73375
49. www.mfmr.gov.na , Points: 0.71637
50. www.az.com.na , Points: 0.66767
51. www.namweb.com.na , Points: 0.66666
52. www.namfisa.com.na Points: 0.55555
53. www.renaissance.com.na Points: 0.54629
54. www.swakopmund-museum.org.na Points: 0.53176
55. www.huntnamibia.com.na Points: 0.50000
56. www.oanob.com.na Points: 0.50000
57. www.vieranasbowhunt.com.na , Points: 0.50000
58. www.benefit.org.na , Points: 0.49003
59. www.economist.com.na Points: 0.45902
60. www.natmus.cul.na , Points: 0.41729
61. www.agra.com.na Points: 0.41679
62. www.proteawalvis.com.na , Points: 0.40657
63. www.seasidegroup.com.na Points: 0.40657
64. www.hans-kriess.com.na Points: 0.40657
65. www.ovisume.com.na Points: 0.40657
66. www.blueskynamibia.com.na , Points: 0.40657
67. www.secretgarden.com.na Points: 0.40657
68. www.swartfontein.com.na Points: 0.40657
69. www.palmwag.com.na Points: 0.40657
70. www.littlesossus.com.na Points: 0.40657
71. www.nsx.com.na Points: 0.39211
72. www.mweb.com.na Points: 0.38074
73. www.agrinamibia.com.na Points: 0.37506
74. www.telepassport.com.na , Points: 0.33384
75. www.library.unam.na Points: 0.33333
76. www.ncc.org.na Points: 0.31976
77. www.fnbnamibia.com.na Points: 0.30865
78. www.radiowave.com.na Points: 0.29211
79. www.lac.org.na Points: 0.29211
80. www.windhoekcc.org.na Points: 0.29211
81. www.nampost.com.na , Points: 0.29211
82. www.nepru.org.na , Points: 0.29173
83. www.sindana.com.na Points: 0.29166
84. www.mme.gov.na Points: 0.27803
85. www.opm.gov.na Points: 0.26065
86. www.iway.com.na Points: 0.25555
87. www.cyberhost.com.na Points: 0.25555
88. www.radiokudu.com.na , Points: 0.25038
89. www.birdwatching.com.na , Points: 0.25038
90. www.campingcarhire.com.na , Points: 0.25038
91. www.scsi.com.na Points: 0.25000
92. www.c-bank.com.na Points: 0.22519
93. www.myproperty.com.na Points: 0.20865
94. www.rfsol.com.na Points: 0.20000
95. www.finland.org.na , Points: 0.19457
96. www.gsn.gov.na , Points: 0.19127
97. www.standardbank.com.na Points: 0.18346
98. www.drfn.org.na Points: 0.16692
99. www.larri.com.na , Points: 0.16679
100. www.stpaulscollege.edu.na Points: 0.14285
101. www.nbc.com.na , Points: 0.12519
102. www.mtc.com.na , Points: 0.12519
103. www.namibsunhotels.com.na , Points: 0.12519
104. www.tourism.com.na Points: 0.12519
105. www.nels-estates.com.na Points: 0.12519
106. www.camelcarhire.com.na , Points: 0.12519
107. www.nse.com.na Points: 0.12519
108. www.discover-africa.com.na Points: 0.12519
109. www.namibiasport.com.na Points: 0.12519
110. www.insight.com.na Points: 0.12519
111. www.mgecw.gov.na Points: 0.11111
112. www.namcol.com.na Points: 0.11111
113. www.nta.com.na Points: 0.11111
114. www.polytecnic.edu.na Points: 0.11111
115. www.nampower.com.na Points: 0.10781
116. www.burmeister.com.na Points: 0.10781
117. www.ecb.org.na , Points: 0.10781
118. www.mfa.gov.na Points: 0.10781
119. www.mod.gov.na , Points: 0.10781
120. www.sanlam.com.na Points: 0.10000
121. www.oldmutual.com.na Points: 0.10000
122. www.ictalliance.org.na Points: 0.08346
123. www.ats.com.na Points: 0.08346
124. www.iwwn.com.na Points: 0.08346
125. www.travelnews.com.na Points: 0.08346
126. www.worldsbiggestbraai.com.na Points: 0.08346
127. www.pembrokefarmstay.co.na Points: 0.08346
128. www.tasa.com.na Points: 0.08346
129. www.archery.com.na Points: 0.08346
130. www.lianshulu.com.na , Points: 0.08346
131. www.gruenental.com.na Points: 0.08346
132. www.safarihotel.com.na , Points: 0.08346
133. www.hampidjan.na Points: 0.08346
134. www.chamberofmines.org.na Points: 0.08346
135. www.ishltd.com.na Points: 0.08346
136. www.tradedirectory.com.na , Points: 0.08346
137. www.transnamib.com.na Points: 0.08346
138. www.cymot.com.na , Points: 0.08346
139. www.iit.com.na Points: 0.08346
140. www.napwu.org.na Points: 0.08333
141. www.renaissancehealth.com.na Points: 0.08333
142. www.legalshield.com.na Points: 0.08333
143. www.mrlgh.gov.na , Points: 0.06608
144. www.mti.gov.na , Points: 0.06608
145. www.namcor.com.na , Points: 0.06608
146. www.ongopolo.com.na Points: 0.06608
147. www.skydiveswakop.com.na Points: 0.04347
148. www.ndc.org.na Points: 0.04173
149. www.namprop.com.na Points: 0.04173
150. www.swasafaris.com.na , Points: 0.04173
151. www.lisse.na Points: 0.04173
152. www.das.com.na , Points: 0.04173
153. www.namibia.com.na Points: 0.04173
154. www.yellowlink.com.na Points: 0.04173
155. www.hsf.org.na Points: 0.04173
156. www.mac.com.na , Points: 0.04173
157. www.kessler.com.na , Points: 0.04173
158. www.ict.com.na Points: 0.04173
159. www.icl.com.na Points: 0.04173
160. www.elwiwa.com.na Points: 0.04173
161. www.conferencelink.com.na Points: 0.04173
162. www.srin.org.na Points: 0.04173
163. www.quantum.com.na Points: 0.04173
164. www.kumkum.com.na Points: 0.04173
165. www.corporatetraining.com.na , Points: 0.04173
166. www.cds-isis.org.na Points: 0.04173
167. www.ombudsman.org.na Points: 0.04173
168. www.usemb.org.na Points: 0.04173
169. www.airports.com.na Points: 0.04173
170. www.pleasureflights.com.na , Points: 0.04173
171. www.tgi.na Points: 0.04173
172. iafrica.com.na Points: 0.04173
173. www.beachlodge.com.na , Points: 0.04173
174. www.arc.org.na Points: 0.04173
175. www.unisob.na Points: 0.04173
176. www.gazza.com.na Points: 0.04173
177. www.southerntimes.com.na Points: 0.04173
178. www.ascend.com.na Points: 0.04173
179. www.safariland.com.na Points: 0.04173
180. www.sps.com.na Points: 0.04173
181. www.travel.com.na , Points: 0.04173
182. www.nampharmfoundation.org.na Points: 0.04173
183. www.tech.na Points: 0.04173
184. www.nangof.org.na Points: 0.04173
185. www.google.com.na , Points: 0.04173
186. www.westwing.com.na Points: 0.04173
187. www.ngkn.com.na Points: 0.04173
188. www.realestates.com.na Points: 0.04173
189. www.dbn.com.na Points: 0.04173
190. www.echo-line.com.na Points: 0.04173
191. www.nab.com.na Points: 0.04173
192. www.nda.org.na Points: 0.04173
193. www.treasuretrail.com.na Points: 0.04173
194. www.pwcglobal.com.na Points: 0.04173
195. www.search.na , Points: 0.04173
196. www.namibiatoday.com.na Points: 0.04173
197. www.apple.com.na Points: 0.04173
198. www.omulunga.com.na Points: 0.04173
199. www.plus.com.na Points: 0.04173
200. www.peace.org.na , Points: 0.04173
201. www.nampharm.com.na Points: 0.04173
202. www.khanrivier.com.na Points: 0.04173
203. www.cybertech.com.na Points: 0.04173
204. burmeister.com.na Points: 0.04173
205. www.iafrica.com.na , Points: 0.04173
206. www.jeeprent.com.na Points: 0.04173
207. www.nca.com.na Points: 0.04173
208. www.nru.com.na Points: 0.04173
209. www.novaship.com.na Points: 0.04173
210. www.namibtimes.com.na Points: 0.04173
211. www.rhino-trust.org.na Points: 0.04173
212. www.royaltours.com.na Points: 0.04173
213. www.golfsafariafrica.com.na Points: 0.04173
214. www.epupa.com.na Points: 0.04173
215. www.namibiaresorts.com.na Points: 0.04173
216. www.otjiruze.com.na Points: 0.04173
217. www.pqnamibia.com.na Points: 0.04173
218. www.walvisbay.com.na Points: 0.04173
219. www.democracy.org.na Points: 0.04173
220. www.ippr.org.na Points: 0.04173
221. www.nid.org.na Points: 0.04173
222. www.usaid.org.na Points: 0.04173
223. www.performateq.com.na Points: 0.04173
224. www.omatieketourism.com.na Points: 0.04173
225. www.biodiversity.org.na Points: 0.04173
226. www.fishermanslodge.com.na , Points: 0.04173
227. www.namibian.co.na Points: 0.04173
Site valuations
Google.com - Estimated Value: $2,498,469,497.85 USD
Google.com.na - Estimated Value: $167,705.03 USD
Republikein.com.na- Estimated Value: $11,665.28 USD
Namibian.org (carboard box namibia) - Estimated Value: $8,763.27 USD
iNamibia.co.na - Estimated Value: $7,082.03 USD
Hellonam.com - Estimated Value: $2,941.90 USD
Namibiansun.com - Estimated Value: $977.40 USD
Interact.com.na - Estimated Value: $291.06 USD
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Oldest coloured owned business in Namibia
Johannes Wilhelm Krabbenhoeft was the son of Friedrich Wilhelm Krabbenhoeft who established the trading house Krabbenhoeft and Lampe at Lüderitz, and his wife Lucie Krabbenhoeft née Forbes. He was born on 20.09.1882 at Keetmanshoop. Due to the fact that his mother was a "coloured" woman from the Cape Colony in South Africa, he had later difficulties in the Schutztruppe during the German colonial period.
Present Day (2010)
What am I doing by writing about this?
The sociology of race and of ethnic relations is the area of the discipline that studies the social, political, and economic relations between races and ethnicities at all levels of society. This area encompasses the study of racism, residential segregation, and other complex social processes between different racial and ethnic groups. The sociological analysis of race and ethnicity frequently interacts with other areas of sociology such as stratification and social psychology, as well as with postcolonial theory.
At the level of political policy, ethnic relations is discussed in terms of either assimilationism or multiculturalism. Anti-racism forms another style of policy, particularly popular in the 1960s and 70s.
On Wikipedia
‘The overall sense one has regarding Coloured identity in the new South Africa is one of fragmentation, uncertainty and confusion. For the greater part of its existence, Coloured identity was accepted as given by its bearers, and in the latter phases of the apartheid era, the emergence of a rejectionist movement created a schism between those who accepted and those who eschewed it. But the new South Africa has witnessed the emergence of a wide spectrum of positions on the nature of Colourness and a plethora of initiatives to change or influence the ways in which it is expressed. Such attempts have thus far failed to have much of a popular impact because they lack resonance with the Coloured masses and are driven by small groups of intellectuals and community activists with limited influence. The evidence indicates that many people who have gone beyond simply accepting racial categories as given are wrestling with questions about the extent to which they should express their identity as black, as African, as South African, as Khoisan, as descendants of slaves or whether they should take a stand on the principle of nonracism. There is often confusion about whether Colouredness is inherent or imposed from outside, whether it is something negative to be discarded or something positive to be embraced and affirmed. Today, Coloured identity remains in flux and is experiencing a degree of change unparalleled since its emergence in the late nineteenth century'
Thursday, 24 March 2011
The way things are ... in Africa
http://www.namibiansun.com/story/way-things-are-africa
Pashu Shuudi writes:
ALTHOUGH hard to swallow, us black people despise everything that looks like us. To prove my point, not so long ago fellow blacks who run away from atrocities in their African countries were beaten, burned and some even killed by fellow blacks in South Africa. In Namibia, black supporters of the ruling party SWAPO and the opposition parties clashed in 2009 and we are still hearing of such quarrels or violence just in the name of politics.
Through history, I have come to learn that we actually disliked one another before colonialism, hence fierce tribal fights during those years. Colonialism united us all in the fight against a common enemy. After colonialism, we saw the rebirth of what we thought was buried long time ago, tribalism, regionalism, favouritism, etc. Although we do not like others from other tribes, we all love things that we do not produce. We love fine branded clothes, (Polo, Paris Hilton, Luis Vuiton, Nike, Adidas, Lacoste, Timberland) from Europe, we love American and German-made cars, we love expensive wine, we like Jameson whisky, Jack Daniels, Johnny Walker, Red Label, Bell’s, Scottish brandy, the beer. Yet no African person brews any of them.
All we own, unfortunately, are thousands of shebeens where we drink ourselves to death, stab each other with knives/bottles, infect each other with the HIV virus, make lots of unwanted babies and then blame others for our miseries. We love all sorts of expensive foreign made items and show them off. Yet we look down at our indigenous products that we fail to commercialise.
As blacks, we know very little about investments, whether in stocks, or in properties. All we know is how to invest our money in things that depreciates or evaporate the fastest - like clothes, cars, alcohol, and when we are at it, we want the whole world to see us. I know some brothers driving BMWs, yet they sleep on the floors, no beds because nobody will see them anyway. This is what we love doing and this is the black life, a life of showing off for those who have. A black millionaire ‘tenderpreneur’ living in Ludwig’s Dorf, Kleine Kuppe, Olympias, in Windhoek will drive to the notorious Eveline Street in Katutura for a beer where he will show off his expensive car and look down on others. We sell our natural resources to Europe for processing, and then buy them back in finished products.
What makes us so inferior in our thinking that we only pride ourselves when we have something made by others?
What compels us to show off things that we don’t manufacture?
Is it the poverty that we allow ourselves to be in? Is it our navigated consciousness, our culture or just a low self-esteem possessing us?
For how long are we going to be consumers or users of things we do not produce?
Do we like the easy way out, such that we only use and consume things made by others?
Do designer clothes, expensive wine or changing our names to sound more European make us more confident in ourselves?
Our leaders scream at us how bad the Europeans are, yet they steal our public money and hide it in European banks. We know how Europeans ransacked Africa but we are scandalously quiet when our own leaders loot our countries and run with briefcases under their arms full of our riches to Europe.
The Europeans took our riches to Europe but our African leaders are again taking our riches to Europe. Mubarak of Egypt, Gadaffi of Libya, Mobutu Sese Seko of the then Zaire, all had their assets allegedly frozen in Europe. Why do our African leaders who claim to love us run to invest ‘their’ money in Europe?
Again, when they get sick they are quick to be flown to Europe for treatment yet our relatives die in hospital queues. Don’t our leaders trust the health systems they have created for us all? Why are we so subservient, so obedient to corruption when committed by our very own people?
Nobody can disagree with me in this country that we are like pets trained to obey the instructions of their masters. I am sure we look down when we think of our broken lives, but what do we see when our thoughts are down? I wonder if we realise how we sell our dreams to our leaders for corruption, miseries, poverty, unemployment, underdevelopment and all other social evils affecting us.
How long are we going to let our manipulated minds mislead us, from womb to tomb?
Pashu Shuudi writes:
ALTHOUGH hard to swallow, us black people despise everything that looks like us. To prove my point, not so long ago fellow blacks who run away from atrocities in their African countries were beaten, burned and some even killed by fellow blacks in South Africa. In Namibia, black supporters of the ruling party SWAPO and the opposition parties clashed in 2009 and we are still hearing of such quarrels or violence just in the name of politics.
Through history, I have come to learn that we actually disliked one another before colonialism, hence fierce tribal fights during those years. Colonialism united us all in the fight against a common enemy. After colonialism, we saw the rebirth of what we thought was buried long time ago, tribalism, regionalism, favouritism, etc. Although we do not like others from other tribes, we all love things that we do not produce. We love fine branded clothes, (Polo, Paris Hilton, Luis Vuiton, Nike, Adidas, Lacoste, Timberland) from Europe, we love American and German-made cars, we love expensive wine, we like Jameson whisky, Jack Daniels, Johnny Walker, Red Label, Bell’s, Scottish brandy, the beer. Yet no African person brews any of them.
All we own, unfortunately, are thousands of shebeens where we drink ourselves to death, stab each other with knives/bottles, infect each other with the HIV virus, make lots of unwanted babies and then blame others for our miseries. We love all sorts of expensive foreign made items and show them off. Yet we look down at our indigenous products that we fail to commercialise.
As blacks, we know very little about investments, whether in stocks, or in properties. All we know is how to invest our money in things that depreciates or evaporate the fastest - like clothes, cars, alcohol, and when we are at it, we want the whole world to see us. I know some brothers driving BMWs, yet they sleep on the floors, no beds because nobody will see them anyway. This is what we love doing and this is the black life, a life of showing off for those who have. A black millionaire ‘tenderpreneur’ living in Ludwig’s Dorf, Kleine Kuppe, Olympias, in Windhoek will drive to the notorious Eveline Street in Katutura for a beer where he will show off his expensive car and look down on others. We sell our natural resources to Europe for processing, and then buy them back in finished products.
What makes us so inferior in our thinking that we only pride ourselves when we have something made by others?
What compels us to show off things that we don’t manufacture?
Is it the poverty that we allow ourselves to be in? Is it our navigated consciousness, our culture or just a low self-esteem possessing us?
For how long are we going to be consumers or users of things we do not produce?
Do we like the easy way out, such that we only use and consume things made by others?
Do designer clothes, expensive wine or changing our names to sound more European make us more confident in ourselves?
Our leaders scream at us how bad the Europeans are, yet they steal our public money and hide it in European banks. We know how Europeans ransacked Africa but we are scandalously quiet when our own leaders loot our countries and run with briefcases under their arms full of our riches to Europe.
The Europeans took our riches to Europe but our African leaders are again taking our riches to Europe. Mubarak of Egypt, Gadaffi of Libya, Mobutu Sese Seko of the then Zaire, all had their assets allegedly frozen in Europe. Why do our African leaders who claim to love us run to invest ‘their’ money in Europe?
Again, when they get sick they are quick to be flown to Europe for treatment yet our relatives die in hospital queues. Don’t our leaders trust the health systems they have created for us all? Why are we so subservient, so obedient to corruption when committed by our very own people?
Nobody can disagree with me in this country that we are like pets trained to obey the instructions of their masters. I am sure we look down when we think of our broken lives, but what do we see when our thoughts are down? I wonder if we realise how we sell our dreams to our leaders for corruption, miseries, poverty, unemployment, underdevelopment and all other social evils affecting us.
How long are we going to let our manipulated minds mislead us, from womb to tomb?
Monday, 21 March 2011
A Crown For Your Brow, And a Key For Your Hand
on Namibia's 21st birthday, 21 March 2011
This morning once more my country awakes
This day is no normal day though,
No, today my country has come of age,
It is no longer a child,
But an adult member of the world.
I remember its birth many sunrises ago
When I was chosen to raise our new flag,
Looking out from that first maternity ward
Over the rolling hills of our capital Windhoek
The skyline created by the colonialists.
Today, my country receives its key,
The key to unlock things before hidden,
Things that were forbidden to do,
Now maturity must lend a hand
And help in the choices it makes.
During its teenage years,
I became worried as it flirted,
Its political alliances changing shape
Hard words being exchanged during puberty
Crying tears of unanswered love.
As my country becomes more self-assured
Exerting its own will and wants
It is time to step quietly aside,
Assuring it of my undying, continued love
While letting it achieve its own greatness.
Smile, my beloved land on your crown birthday,
You have overcome many a fall or scrape
Some of the scars will remain as proof
All of it part of growing up and learning
Preparing for your role in life
Do not care about your past
The bitted words of things you cannot change
Mould yourself into a strong unified character
Reconciliation will always be your guide
Making every citizen a part of the motherland
From Today, as always, make us proud.
This morning once more my country awakes
This day is no normal day though,
No, today my country has come of age,
It is no longer a child,
But an adult member of the world.
I remember its birth many sunrises ago
When I was chosen to raise our new flag,
Looking out from that first maternity ward
Over the rolling hills of our capital Windhoek
The skyline created by the colonialists.
Today, my country receives its key,
The key to unlock things before hidden,
Things that were forbidden to do,
Now maturity must lend a hand
And help in the choices it makes.
During its teenage years,
I became worried as it flirted,
Its political alliances changing shape
Hard words being exchanged during puberty
Crying tears of unanswered love.
As my country becomes more self-assured
Exerting its own will and wants
It is time to step quietly aside,
Assuring it of my undying, continued love
While letting it achieve its own greatness.
Smile, my beloved land on your crown birthday,
You have overcome many a fall or scrape
Some of the scars will remain as proof
All of it part of growing up and learning
Preparing for your role in life
Do not care about your past
The bitted words of things you cannot change
Mould yourself into a strong unified character
Reconciliation will always be your guide
Making every citizen a part of the motherland
From Today, as always, make us proud.
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
African People's Organisation / first coloured pressure group in Namibia
The African People's Organisation (APO), originally the African Political Organisation, was formed in Cape Town in 1902 and was initially the most prominent "coloured" pressure group in South Africa. Its interest in SWA/Namibia goes back to at least 1918 when it opposed the transfer of the former German colony to the South Africa Authority. The first SWA branch of the APO was established in Windhoek in February 1923. In informing the colonial authorities of the establishment of the branch, the leaders stated that the aims of the organisation were to defend "the Social Political and Civil Rights of the Cape Coloured Community throughout the SW Protectorate. Another political organisation which devoted itself to representing the Coloured community in SWA, the African National Bond, was also launched in Windhoek in 1925.
The APO, although it recruited its members from the relatively small group of educated and economically comfortably off Coloureds, was to become the most influential political organisation for Coloureds for almost forty years. Although it collapsed as an organisation in the early 1940s, having to give way to more radical organisations, the APO shaped black political thought and culture for decades after its demise.
The APO, although it recruited its members from the relatively small group of educated and economically comfortably off Coloureds, was to become the most influential political organisation for Coloureds for almost forty years. Although it collapsed as an organisation in the early 1940s, having to give way to more radical organisations, the APO shaped black political thought and culture for decades after its demise.
Friday, 11 March 2011
William Jordan (1849-1886), Coloured settler in Namibia
Coloureds in Namibia since 1884:
William Worthington Jordan, was a "coloured" man from the Cape Colony in South Africa. His father was British and his mother cape coloured. He was a hunter and trader in Botswana, Namibia and Angola.
On 21.04.1884 Jordan obtained a land and minerals concession of 50,000 kilometres around Otavi and Grootfontein from Ondonga King Kambonde kaMpingana, king of the Ondongas in the interior of Namibia. Kambonde hoped to strengthen his position against his main rival for control of the Ongonda chiefdom, Nehale Mpingana.
Jordan had traded with the Dorsland Trekkers and a group of trekboers on their way back from Angola were invited to stay on this concession he called the "Republic Upingtonia" - that on 20 Oct 1885 was founded as a settler polity with Grootfontein as its capital. He purchased the area on payment of 300 English pounds, 25 rifles, a slated horse and a barrel of brandy.
Subsequently the name is changed to Lijdensrust(Lydenrust)in 1886 and accepts German protection. The first, and only President, George Diederik P. Prinsloo (b. 1820 - d. 1888), presided from 20 Oct 1885 - June 1887.
Flag of Upingtonia
Jordan's killing on the orders of Ondonga King Nehale lyaMpingana on 30.06.1886 marked the end of the "Republic Upingtonia", and most of the Boers trekked back to Angola. Jordan's concession was auctioned in Cape Town after his death, and formed the basis for the South West Africa Company.
(By August 1892, Cecil Rhodes had come to dominate the SWAC which had the sole rights to operate railway lines between Sandwich Harbour and the Kunene River.The "Otavi Minen- und Eisenbahngesellschaft (OMEG)" was founded in Berlin on 6 April1900. The major shareholders were the German Disconto-Gesellschaft and the South West Africa Company (SWAC). The mining rights of Jordan were now held in this company which was in later years to become Tsumeb Corporation Limited.)
Following this, the German government at Windhoek asserted control over the region and ended Lijdenrust's independence.
It would be a stretch, but in essence the first coloured settler created a settler colony in 1885. He was killed in the fight between two Ondonga brothers to take over as Chief. Upon his death,the Germans took control of this territory. Thus, the first coloured settlement in Namibia had ended.
Sources:
Max Du Preez in his book, Of Tricksters, Tyrants and Turncoats (Zebra Press Cape Town 2008) refers to him in a chapter entitled “The Darkie Boer”.
Chronology Of Namibian History
Author: Klaus Dierks
Published 1999 – Namibia Scientific Society
William Worthington Jordan, was a "coloured" man from the Cape Colony in South Africa. His father was British and his mother cape coloured. He was a hunter and trader in Botswana, Namibia and Angola.
On 21.04.1884 Jordan obtained a land and minerals concession of 50,000 kilometres around Otavi and Grootfontein from Ondonga King Kambonde kaMpingana, king of the Ondongas in the interior of Namibia. Kambonde hoped to strengthen his position against his main rival for control of the Ongonda chiefdom, Nehale Mpingana.
Jordan had traded with the Dorsland Trekkers and a group of trekboers on their way back from Angola were invited to stay on this concession he called the "Republic Upingtonia" - that on 20 Oct 1885 was founded as a settler polity with Grootfontein as its capital. He purchased the area on payment of 300 English pounds, 25 rifles, a slated horse and a barrel of brandy.
Subsequently the name is changed to Lijdensrust(Lydenrust)in 1886 and accepts German protection. The first, and only President, George Diederik P. Prinsloo (b. 1820 - d. 1888), presided from 20 Oct 1885 - June 1887.
Flag of Upingtonia
Jordan's killing on the orders of Ondonga King Nehale lyaMpingana on 30.06.1886 marked the end of the "Republic Upingtonia", and most of the Boers trekked back to Angola. Jordan's concession was auctioned in Cape Town after his death, and formed the basis for the South West Africa Company.
(By August 1892, Cecil Rhodes had come to dominate the SWAC which had the sole rights to operate railway lines between Sandwich Harbour and the Kunene River.The "Otavi Minen- und Eisenbahngesellschaft (OMEG)" was founded in Berlin on 6 April1900. The major shareholders were the German Disconto-Gesellschaft and the South West Africa Company (SWAC). The mining rights of Jordan were now held in this company which was in later years to become Tsumeb Corporation Limited.)
Following this, the German government at Windhoek asserted control over the region and ended Lijdenrust's independence.
It would be a stretch, but in essence the first coloured settler created a settler colony in 1885. He was killed in the fight between two Ondonga brothers to take over as Chief. Upon his death,the Germans took control of this territory. Thus, the first coloured settlement in Namibia had ended.
Sources:
Max Du Preez in his book, Of Tricksters, Tyrants and Turncoats (Zebra Press Cape Town 2008) refers to him in a chapter entitled “The Darkie Boer”.
Chronology Of Namibian History
Author: Klaus Dierks
Published 1999 – Namibia Scientific Society
RACISM, COLOURED PEOPLE AND BLACK NATIONALISM
I WAS shocked by the article ‘Manuel slams ANC spokesman on ‘coloureds’ remarks’ (The Namibian, 3 March) for being such a racist article itself! While addressing a racist incident in South Africa, the journalist made some disturbing racist statements:
1) The article refers to ‘… a mixed-race group of people.’ This is the language of the mentally-challenged apartheid ideologues and the fascists with their delusions about ‘racial purity.’ Some of the recent incidents in Windhoek show how mentally challenged the racists are. The question of racism remains relevant to us in Namibia since we are dealing with the same kinds of issues here.
2) ‘Coloureds – descendants of the British, Portuguese, African tribes and others – were forcibly concentrated in the western region…’ The coloured people were subjected to the Group Areas Act, but were never ‘forcibly concentrated’ as they have always lived in that region. It would seem that this racially-challenged article was written by some journalist who clearly does not understand the history of southern Africa. The historical fact is that most coloured people originate from the Khoi-San, while the descendants of Malay slaves make up the second biggest group in this tribal/ethnic category. The tribal label ‘coloureds’ was invented by British imperialism (to cover up its mineral theft) and perpetuated by apartheid (to continue the looting).
3) ‘…coloureds have helped the opposition Democratic Alliance take control of local government.’ In a democratic society, people can vote for whoever they prefer. Only an autocratic mindset expects coloured people to only vote for one political party. The coloured people in the Western Cape are split right down the centre in that the middle class support the ANC and the working class does not. It is primarily a social class issue in the context of high unemployment in that region.
The ANC’s secret economic negotiations with the apartheid regime agreed on downgrading the secondary industries (especially clothing) and this led to massive job losses in the Western Cape.
The coloured working class has not forgiven the ANC for this betrayal. In any case, the Western Cape has a long history of modern left-wing politics (since 1934) and the people there have never been impressed with black nationalism. So, the insinuation in the article that coloured people in the Western Cape are racist for not voting for the ANC is far-fetched. Since when does black nationalism represent real liberation when it seems to be only interested in going on with the plundering? Perhaps black nationalism is so invested in these tribal categories to cover up its own looting.
For the record, it is mainly due to the voting of ‘white’ South Africans in the Western Cape that the right-wing DA is in power there and it is interesting to speculate about how come the media focus on coloured people. Is it easier to scapegoat a small group perceived to be politically and economically weaker? In the Northern and Eastern Cape, the coloured people vote for the ANC because of different political dynamics. So, maybe one cannot generalize about this issue.
We should also say to Jimmy Manyi and all the black nationalists of southern Africa: there is an ‘over-supply’ (like commodities?) of coloured people in the Western Cape because their ancestors have lived in southern Africa for 15 000 years! We want black nationalists to get rid of their oppressive idea that they are the only true Africans.
Jimmy Manyi, as an example of a black nationalist, does not grapple with the real causes of unemployment and ends up making racist remarks. Besides dehumanizing and degrading coloured people, Manyi promotes a divisive and potentially violent discourse. His statements reveal the disastrous nature of racial affirmative action instead of social-class affirmative action. Black nationalism does not have the answers and represents a danger to progress with its social conservatism.
With regards to the title of this questionable article, it might also be noted that Manyi is not an ANC spokesman, but a South African government spokesperson. ‘Spokesman’ is such a sexist word. Besides being sloppy journalism, this article is factually incorrect and outright racist.
What a pity that the name of the journalist was not printed.
Finally, we should say again that our refusal to accept tribal/ethnic labels is part of the ongoing struggle for social justice in southern Africa. We should build anti-racism. Non-racialism remains our great contribution to humanity.
J B Cloete
Windhoek
1) The article refers to ‘… a mixed-race group of people.’ This is the language of the mentally-challenged apartheid ideologues and the fascists with their delusions about ‘racial purity.’ Some of the recent incidents in Windhoek show how mentally challenged the racists are. The question of racism remains relevant to us in Namibia since we are dealing with the same kinds of issues here.
2) ‘Coloureds – descendants of the British, Portuguese, African tribes and others – were forcibly concentrated in the western region…’ The coloured people were subjected to the Group Areas Act, but were never ‘forcibly concentrated’ as they have always lived in that region. It would seem that this racially-challenged article was written by some journalist who clearly does not understand the history of southern Africa. The historical fact is that most coloured people originate from the Khoi-San, while the descendants of Malay slaves make up the second biggest group in this tribal/ethnic category. The tribal label ‘coloureds’ was invented by British imperialism (to cover up its mineral theft) and perpetuated by apartheid (to continue the looting).
3) ‘…coloureds have helped the opposition Democratic Alliance take control of local government.’ In a democratic society, people can vote for whoever they prefer. Only an autocratic mindset expects coloured people to only vote for one political party. The coloured people in the Western Cape are split right down the centre in that the middle class support the ANC and the working class does not. It is primarily a social class issue in the context of high unemployment in that region.
The ANC’s secret economic negotiations with the apartheid regime agreed on downgrading the secondary industries (especially clothing) and this led to massive job losses in the Western Cape.
The coloured working class has not forgiven the ANC for this betrayal. In any case, the Western Cape has a long history of modern left-wing politics (since 1934) and the people there have never been impressed with black nationalism. So, the insinuation in the article that coloured people in the Western Cape are racist for not voting for the ANC is far-fetched. Since when does black nationalism represent real liberation when it seems to be only interested in going on with the plundering? Perhaps black nationalism is so invested in these tribal categories to cover up its own looting.
For the record, it is mainly due to the voting of ‘white’ South Africans in the Western Cape that the right-wing DA is in power there and it is interesting to speculate about how come the media focus on coloured people. Is it easier to scapegoat a small group perceived to be politically and economically weaker? In the Northern and Eastern Cape, the coloured people vote for the ANC because of different political dynamics. So, maybe one cannot generalize about this issue.
We should also say to Jimmy Manyi and all the black nationalists of southern Africa: there is an ‘over-supply’ (like commodities?) of coloured people in the Western Cape because their ancestors have lived in southern Africa for 15 000 years! We want black nationalists to get rid of their oppressive idea that they are the only true Africans.
Jimmy Manyi, as an example of a black nationalist, does not grapple with the real causes of unemployment and ends up making racist remarks. Besides dehumanizing and degrading coloured people, Manyi promotes a divisive and potentially violent discourse. His statements reveal the disastrous nature of racial affirmative action instead of social-class affirmative action. Black nationalism does not have the answers and represents a danger to progress with its social conservatism.
With regards to the title of this questionable article, it might also be noted that Manyi is not an ANC spokesman, but a South African government spokesperson. ‘Spokesman’ is such a sexist word. Besides being sloppy journalism, this article is factually incorrect and outright racist.
What a pity that the name of the journalist was not printed.
Finally, we should say again that our refusal to accept tribal/ethnic labels is part of the ongoing struggle for social justice in southern Africa. We should build anti-racism. Non-racialism remains our great contribution to humanity.
J B Cloete
Windhoek
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Mobile Contacts Databases for sale:
The company Credit Information Bureau Namibia has developed a consumer and business database of Namibia. The complete database comprises of approximately 1 million individuals and 10,000 businesses. CRIB provides mailing and telemarketing lists to clients in the financial and personal services industry.
The company has filtered this database to create a "Professionals Database" made up of over 15,000 mobile numbers of high-net worth professionals throughout Namibia.
HOW LIST RENTAL WORKS
Most of the lists we have available are offered on a list rental basis, ie they are supplied for once off use only at a rate quoted as a cost per 500 individual consumers or company executives. For example - the cost to rent 1,000 professionals from the Namibian Professionals Database will be 1,000 x N$ 3.50 per 1000 for once off telephone, mailing and fax usage = N$ 3,500.00 excluding VAT. A processing charge of N$ 500.00 is also charged for any order. We will supply you with counts and quotes based on your selection criteria at no cost. Once you have decided what you want to rent we will invoice you and ask you to sign a list order confirmation. Once we have received the signed confirmation and proof of payment we will supply a zipped file of the data via e-mail in the file format you require (usually MS Excel).
You can contact Milton Louw at tel +264 61 222 227 for further information.
The company has filtered this database to create a "Professionals Database" made up of over 15,000 mobile numbers of high-net worth professionals throughout Namibia.
HOW LIST RENTAL WORKS
Most of the lists we have available are offered on a list rental basis, ie they are supplied for once off use only at a rate quoted as a cost per 500 individual consumers or company executives. For example - the cost to rent 1,000 professionals from the Namibian Professionals Database will be 1,000 x N$ 3.50 per 1000 for once off telephone, mailing and fax usage = N$ 3,500.00 excluding VAT. A processing charge of N$ 500.00 is also charged for any order. We will supply you with counts and quotes based on your selection criteria at no cost. Once you have decided what you want to rent we will invoice you and ask you to sign a list order confirmation. Once we have received the signed confirmation and proof of payment we will supply a zipped file of the data via e-mail in the file format you require (usually MS Excel).
You can contact Milton Louw at tel +264 61 222 227 for further information.
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