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Want some insight in Namibian politics? I am no expert but have 16 years (1995-2011) of writing on Namibian politics in The Namibian newspaper and can probably offer you a bit more than you know about the who's who in the Namibian political zoo. You will also find a few articles commenting on other issues of concern in the country. Hope you find it interesting. - Christof

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Deliver Us From Vision 2030

A COLLEAGUE of mine can’t stand words such as ‘stakeholders’, ‘synergies’ and ‘dovetailing’. She has advised reporters to steer clear from those words in their stories. I wish she could do the same with Vision 2030 and people who haven’t read it but continue to week in and week out churn out references to it without contextualising them.

The centre of her target should be veteran politicians, many of whom have not even read the document they are often quoting, as well as some upcoming ones who think they know it all despite knowing nothing!

The Vision is the brainchild of former President Sam Nujoma and a noble idea indeed as it aims to put the quality of life of all Namibians on a par with people in the developed world by 2030.

The blueprint for the country’s long-term national development policy was officially launched six years ago although Nujoma addressed Cabinet on the need to plan for the country’s future already way back in 1998. So it took six years to come up with it.

Trade Minister Hage Geingob recently described Vision 2030 as “a tall order” while the former Director General of the National Planning Commission Peter Katjavivi said “vision is one thing; the process to get there is another thing”.

I agree with both.

That is why I don’t take many people who use the phrase ‘Vision 2030’ seriously.

Many of them can hardly explain the reality, but opt for the cheap way out by making trite statements like “we need to work towards Vision 2030”. They trot them out whenever they want to avoid thinking and it can mean whatever the user wants it to mean!

I actually believe that many use Vision 2030 to make claims about Government achievements that are not true - like that we are on target with things such as information and communication technology goals.

Will Rogers, a United States humorist and showman who died 75 years ago, once said: “I don’t make jokes. I just watch the Government and report the facts.”

I fall in the same category today. This is no joke.

I believe that many speakers do not use Vision 2030 in their speeches to explain a reality, but to avoid doing so.

You turn up at a blanket donation ceremony to impoverished people in Okahandja Park or Ombili and politicians talk about Vision 2030 without even explaining how it links to the occasion. They leave many at grassroots misty-eyed over those big words but get away with blue murder in the process.

As Andre du Pisani said a few years back, Vision 2030 requires “much hard thinking, much doing and much dialogue”.

A quick check on the Vision and targets has revealed the following, among others:

* to significantly reduce unemployment to less than five per cent of the workforce – “close to a condition of full employment”;

* have a social security support guarantee with an acceptable quality of life for the disadvantaged (think Basic Income Grant);

* have a strong and active opposition;

* media that are mature, investigative and free;

* have independent ‘watchdog’ institutions to monitor Government, private sector and civil society organisations and agencies;

* new towns throughout the country, so that the big cities are no longer congested;

* IT training to start at the pre-primary level!;

* There will be a functioning University of Applied Science and Technology by 2005;

* 50 per cent of all Namibian students will study at the University of Applied Science in the areas of electrical and electronic engineering, and computer science;

* by 2005 selected governmental institutions will provide e-business services to the Namibian public and to foreign investors;

* from 2004 win at least four gold medals in international competitions in boxing, cycling, swimming and marathon;

* win at least three gold medals at the Summer Olympic Games of 2004; and

* equip all schools with furniture, water and electricity by 2006.

However, at the current rate land redistribution is going, it will take 40 years before half of Namibia’s commercial farmland will be turned over to black people.

To their credit those who developed Vision 2030 said it is a process and not a plan.

However, a process needs a clear national strategy to give guidance and direction and also people who will be mindful of what they say about the Vision.

The way in which politicians subject citizens to the parroting around Vision 2030, currently amounts to nothing less than verbal abuse.

If there is such thing as the Vision 2030 zeitgeist, it must be now (2010). Two decades should have been enough time to change things around. Or else we will be confined to the dustbin of history.

If not the case, please deliver us from Vision 2030.

* This article first appeared in The Namibian

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