Dear Media Practitioners, Interested Parties, Academics and Researchers as well as Civil Society Actors of Repute:

Attached hereto in PDF Format is the Extended Version of NSHR’s submission or Stakeholder Report 2010 under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) procedure of the 47-Member UN Human Rights Council (HRC), formerly known as the UN Commission on Human Rights.

This Report has been submitted to the HRC in terms of paragraph 3(m) of HRC Resolution 5/1 of June 18 2007, as well as under Section B of the General Guidelines for the Preparation of Information under the UPR. It focuses on Namibia’s human rights shortcomings and the Government of Namibia (GoN)’s non-compliance with the letter and or spirit of, among other things, (1) the UN Charter, (2) the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR); (3) the extra-conventional human rights mechanisms; and (4) the conventional human rights mechanisms to which Namibia is party, as well as on the recommendations for the appropriate solutions to the shortcomings identified herein.

Before it was submitted to the HRC, this Report was circulated to as many stakeholders as possible, including to GoN (i.e. to the Office of the Prime Minister) to elicit comments thereon. Hence, we highly value the few critical, if any, comments (and also the praising ones) which we have received from stakeholders in response to our invitation to do so before this Report was sent off to the HRC in Geneva.

NSHR deeply regrets that GoN has failed in its obligation to similarly circulate its own Report to stakeholders in the country before being submitted to the HRC. Hence, media practitioners and or any other interested parties are hereby encouraged to establish from the Office of the Right Honorable Prime Minister Nahas Angula as to why the GoN report was not circulated for comments by stakeholders before being sent off to Geneva.

The general thrust of the NSHR Report is that, while Namibia has ratified most of the key international human rights treaties, GoN largely pays lip service to the practical implementation of such treaties at the domestic level. Our Abridged Version has already sent and received by the UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva and will form an integral part of the review of GoN’s human rights record.

Phil ya Nangoloh
Executive Director

Dear Mr Ntinda

On 7 July 2010 several members of our family/clan from both side issued a joint statement in which they totally condemned the repugnant and inflammatory statements by you, the editor of the Swapo Party newspaper “Namiba Today”, Mr Asser Ntinda. In your editorial column called “Zoom IN”, Mr Ntinda you falsely and maliciously claimed our “whole family (ezimo alihe)” is “ashamed” of Mr. Ya Nangoloh’s so-called unbecoming behaviour and notorious activities and that “...everywhere he (i.e. Mr Ntinda’s fictitious character called SAJ Nuumbembe and masqueraded as a relative of ours) and every relative went…” we were “ashamed and shunned like dogs with rabies” because of Mr Ya Nangoloh’s so-called unacceptable behavior.
Why did you, Mr Ntinda, choose to target our families/clans (“ezimo alihe”) for your slanderous statements? With whom did you verify those remarks and the sentiments contained therein before you ran to print them, Mr Ntinda? As a “journalist” are you not supposed to act responsibly especially so when whole families/clans are implicated? I guess you were too keen to score cheap political points against your foe of choice that you threw caution and journalistic ethics to the wind?! Are you running out of “ammo” against your chosen sworn enemy? As the saying goes: mettle is dangerous in a blind horse! For this public wholesale character assassination of our families/clans (ezimo alihe) you owe us an apology, Mr Ntinda. We do not NOW and will NEVER go about our lives “ashamed” and “being shunned like dogs with rabies”!

It is as lamentable as it is deplorable that a man who occupies such an influential position in society, such as you, Mr. Ntinda (i.e. a media editor), lacks the judgment to realize that whoever you claim to have spoken to, if any at all, could possibly not have been sanctioned to speak on behalf of our family/clan and/or could possibly not have been expressing the views generally held by the family/clan towards Mr Ya Nangoloh, other than just his own. But since the above person is a fictitious character anyway, we are left with no other choice than to attribute the infamous slanderous statements to yourself, Mr. Ntinda. In this case this is pure conjecture where you, Mr. Ntinda, are purely self-projecting. It is human to differ in families/clans and in society at large and nobody can ever deny that. But we are wise enough to know how to deal and/or live with differences among ourselves, be it personal, political or religious. Kindly take note of that, Mr. Ntinda. We have had enough of hypocrites and pretenders (-in their vain attempts to strengthen their evil intentions) claiming to know how our families/clans “hate” and are “ashamed” of Mr. Ya Nangoloh. Allow us the right to speak for ourselves if and when we wish to do so in public.

As a family/clan, we also categorically reject Mr. Ntinda’s suggestions that our relatives who are employed in public institutions including the Namibian Defense Force, and other governmental departments, should be treated as “dangerous informers” for Mr Ya Nangoloh. This “guilty by association” voodoo political philosophy should be rejected contemptuously by all sober-minded people. In any case, what are they supposedly “informing” Mr Ya Nangoloh about? Unlike you, our government does not harbor sinister ideas against innocent citizens and you know that very well, don’t you?

If Mr Ya Nangoloh was regarded as an enemy and threat to peace and security in this country by our government, we are sure that the Namibian State, based on the rule of law as in enshrined in the Supreme Law of this Land of the Brave, has the legal means and capabilities of dealing with such situations and/or threats. We beg to differ with you, Mr. Ntinda, but media slander of families/clans and not-so-veiled threats of elimination of innocent people are not some of those. This country has a democratic, competent, SWAPO PARTY-led government and a visionary, responsible and accountable leadership. This is not a banana republic, Mr Ntinda! Can you, Mr. Ntinda, kindly tell this nation why Mr. Ya Nangoloh has never been prosecuted in a court of law in this country for his so-called notoriety and subversive activities?

One wonders on whose behalf are you, Mr Ntinda, speaking and/or acting when you say “we”? We are not aware, Mr Ntinda, of your appointment as a spokesperson for the Namibian Defence Force, any state institutions and/or even the SWAPO PARTY for that matter. If you, Mr Ntinda, or anybody else has a personal problem with Mr. Ya Nangoloh, kindly deal with it and sort it out yourself, hopefully within the confines of the law, without hiding behind the Namibian Defense Force, any other state institutions, the SWAPO PARTY or our families/clans. We are sure that Mr Ya Nangoloh is well capable of defending himself and/or his position and/or beliefs within those legal parameters.

The members of the family correctly pointed out that, as members of various religious denominations, such as Roman Catholics, Protestants, Anglican and other churches and political parties, such as the SWAPO PARTY, the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), the Congress of Democrats (CoD), the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), the All Peoples’ Party (APP) and the list goes on, we value and respect each others’ affiliations and opinions. Religious and political pluralism is allowed and protected by the laws of the Republic, so we are just practicing what our laws preach. This is democracy at work. There is nothing here for us to be “ashamed of” and to be “shunned like dogs with rabies”. As a matter of fact, our families/clans relationships are not at all based on our memberships and/or non-memberships in the respective political, religious or any other social groupings in this country. Rather, our family relationships, which pre-date political parties and other social groupings, are exclusively based on shared blood. However, in our families/clans we encourage sufficient depoliticization of issues to allow a dynamic social culture in which differences (including political ones) are accepted as part of our daily lives.

Our conduct towards each other is based on mutual respect, tolerance and acceptance of individual preferences, choices and/or opinions, as long as these do NOT violate the laws of the land. This is a free country, Mr Ntinda and, mind you, countless of our members, including Mr Ya Nangoloh himself as an ex-PLAN fighter, just like many members of other families/clans contributed gallantly and selflessly (-so many of our members paid the ultimate price in the process-) to the achievement of the freedom and peace we all enjoy today. We have NO reason whatsoever to go about our lives being “…ashamed and shunned like dogs with rabies…”! Nothing can be further from the truth than that. Mr Ntinda, you have gone far beyond the borders of decency, sanity and dignified behavior. We will never attack or try to implicate your family/clan and/or relatives in your personal, political and/or social activities and/or beliefs. Nothing will make us stoop that low, Mr Ntinda. Dare you take a cue?

Once again, we know how to maturely and soberly deal and or/live with differences among ourselves and you, Mr Ntinda, will be the last person whose advice we would seek, should we need any. It is not your place, Mr Ntinda, to make media statements and/or propaganda on our behalf and/or at our expenses. You are well advised, Mr Ntinda, to leave our families/clans alone and not to try to alienate people who are hostile neither to you as a person nor to the SWAPO PARTY whose mouthpiece you profusely and shamelessly use to propagate your personal sinister agendas. Trying to imply that our families/clans are anti-SWAPO PARTY and government is pure falsehood and malicious label on your behalf, Mr Ntinda. What makes you believe that the power of definition in this country belongs to you? Wise people do not scratch where it does not itch!

The SWAPO PARTY, of which many of us are proud members, and its leadership had noble intentions when they founded “Namibia Today”, which for all intents and purposes (in principle), is to bring to the Namibian people the party’s mission, vision and its progressive developmental programs for today, the future and beyond. “Namibia Today” should be used just for that! Hate speech was never part of it, as it never solves problems or fosters understanding and unity among the people. It is regrettable and unfortunate indeed that one individual uses “Namibia Today” as a spring board to maliciously target our whole families/clans (“ezimo alihe”) and try to bring our good names and reputations into disrepute. Any proud families/clans will stand up in their own defense when such un-called-for aspersions are unceremoniously and indiscriminately cast upon them from any quarters, including from you, Mr Ntinda.

As the family has said, we dearly love and respect our families/clans members including Mr. Phil ya Nangoloh. If and when anyone of them step out of what is legally permissible the law will take its own course. We are proud of them particularly when standing up fearlessly for what they believe in, and especially when it is in favor of the principles of democracy, the rule of law and the respect for the human rights of all without distinction of any kind. Those principles are NOT Mr Ya Nangoloh’s alone, but indeed those are the principles that form the pillars upon which our Namibian Republic is rested. We would salute you too, Mr Ntinda, if you were to stand up in defense of those very same principles! That would not mean that we associate ourselves with your every activity. Do we need to remind you as to who fathered and continues to nurture this beloved republic of ours and its principles, Mr Ntinda? For those principles and ideals we have fought, been killed, maimed, tortured and jailed. For those ideals and principles we will work, live and die. We are patriots, Mr Ntinda!

Finally, I wish to take issue with the denial by you, Mr Ntinda that Mr Ya Nangoloh is not in any way viewed by you or your cohorts as a so-called threat to the peace and stability of this country. It appears that you, Mr Ntinda, do not at all enjoy telling the truth or, in the alternative, you are a highly dishonest person. I am saying this because you, Mr Ntinda, have on numerous occasions wrote defamatory articles against Mr Ya Nangoloh, in some of which you have directly or indirectly called him “a threat to peace and stability”. For example, in your “Zoom In” column published in Namibia Today’s edition of December 18 2009 to January 18 2010, Mr Ntinda, you said and I quote:

“[…] There [are] unscrupulous elements within our society who are busy trying to sow seeds of division, putting the peace and stability that we have enjoyed since independence in jeopardy. […] I am talking about Marx Hamata, Editor of Informante, and Phil Ya Nangoloh, Executive Director of the National Society for Human Rights, NSHR”. End of quote.

Do you deny the remarks quoted above, Mr Ntinda? Perhaps you can explain what the implications of your above statement are? Instigating public hatred against individuals and/or groups such as you are doing to our families/clans is not patriotic at all, Mr Ntinda. It will not make you a national hero. It might serve your myopic personal and/or politics-of-the-belly short-term interests, but it does not serve the bigger, wider long-term national interests. Patriotic people think national, not personal. They are politically farsighted, not myopic and/or dogmatic.

Your public bickering with and/or about Mr Ya Nangoloh has been going on for as long as anyone cares to remember. He has always stood by his own beliefs and has never claimed to speak for and/or on behalf of our families/clans as far as we know. We have never been involved and are NEITHER appreciative of being dragged in by you NOR of your apparent instigations of violence against individuals, just because you are desperate to justify your ignoble dubious intentions. This time, however, you Mr Ntinda have (by dragging us in) gone far beyond sanity that our families/clans are left with no choice but to stand up and defend their honor and dignity!

(PS: Tatekulu Matti Auala has missed the point completely. Protecting one’s honor and dignity and that of one’s family/clan has nothing to do with endorsing their activities. It is culturally a parental responsibility for one to jealously protect one’s children from unprovoked and unwarranted public slander and violence and/or threats of violence and/or instigations of violence towards one or all of them, even if one clearly differs with them politically or does not associate oneself in any way with their activities.”Omukuluntu okwa lya ombinzi nuutsika.” If uncle Auala (being our patrilineal relative) in his wisdom has decided to abdicate his fatherly responsibilities for obvious political expediency or for whatever reason, the honor or dishonor is entirely his. His opinion is respected. It is callous though, that you Mr Ntinda, are quick to mischievously try to make political capital out of uncle Auala’s predicament!)

Haipinge ya Shiweda
Windhoek
19 July 2010

A security guard in the employ of G4S is accusing the Namibian Police of arbitrary deprivation of liberty. Mathew Munsu Malumbano (28), who spoke through his brother, told NSHR that he was arrested on June 1 2010 on “baseless” suspicion of being an accomplice in what was some media have described as hitherto Namibia’s largest cash-in-transit heist. The incident occurred some 2 kilometers outside Karibib along the road leading to Omaruru.

The two men were transporting the money to Standard Bank and First National Bank (FNB) branches at Karibib, Usakos, Arandis, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. Malumbano freed himself from the LDV and walked to the tarred road (the B2 motorway) where Namibian Defense soldiers rescued him and took him to the Karibib Police precinct.

Malumbano claimed that during the incident the linchpin of the heist, Simson Matias(28), who is also a G4S security guard, last Tuesday blindfolded him (Malumbano) at gunpoint and handcuffed him, stuck cello tape over his mouth and nose, locked him up in a container of a Toyota mini-LDV and left him for dead presumably by suffocation. Matias then fled the scene with the cash. According to media reports, Matias fled with an amount of close to N$6.5 million.

Malumbano also told NSHR that on around May 18 2009, he played the decisive role in foiling what could have been Namibia’s largest cash heist of N$24 million when he timely intervened and this led to the arrest of three suspects some of them also G4S guards who attempted to rob the security company. Augustinus Ramos Balzer (41), Charlie Swart (52), and Christiaan Mukoko (36) were arrested and had first appeared before Windhoek Magistrate Muchali Jermaine Muchali on charges of robbery on May 27 2010. This incident occurred at or near the premises of G4S premises situated in 14 Herman (Andimba) Toivo ya Toivo Street in Windhoek’s Southern Industrial Area.

Malumbano told NSHR—and NSHR concurred---that in terms of Article 11(1), read in conjunction with Article 7, of the Namibian Cunstitution, “no person shall be subject to arbitrary arrest or detention”, while Article 11(3) of the Constitution requires that all persons—except illegal immigrants—shall be brought before the nearest Magistrate or other judicial officer within a period of 48 hours or soon thereafter.

“However, until today, I have not yet been brought before a Magistrate or other judicial officer since I was taken into Police custody last Tuesday (i.e. June 1 2010)”, said Malumbano.

In light of the above allegations by Malumbano and whether or not he is guilty of any felony, NSHR calls upon the Namibian Police to immediately release Malumbano from their unlawful custody, as his case is materially similar to that of State v Mbapaha 1991(4) NR 274 (HC) (see attached by fax only). As such, he cannot be held lawfully and or lawfully be brought to a court of law.

In case of additional comment, please call Steven Mvula or Phil ya Nangoloh at Tel: (+264 61) 253 447 / 236 183) or Mobile: +264 811 406 888 (office hours) or +264 8129 12948 (Steven) or +264 811 299 886 (Phil) or E-mail: nshr@nshr.org.na

Namibia’s National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) wishes to join Women’s Action for Development (WAD) to warn Namibian families about, among others, a Nigerian human trafficking (HT) syndicate currently operating from Johannesburg, South Africa (SA). The syndicate is using various methods to lure young Namibian women to SA for the burgeoning sex industry during the FIFA World Cup 2010.

NSHR has impeccable documentary evidence about some of the modus operandi of the syndicate.

“We are currently engaged in covert monitoring in order to find out more about the other modus operandi of this and other criminal syndicates and the information we gather will for sure be promptly presented to the Namibian Police and other security and or intelligence formations of this country, with the view to severely disrupt the deadly missions of these criminal syndicates. The syndicate, inter alia, uses the internet to lure young women into SA on, among other things, false information that they have won millions of US dollars worth of Lottery and that they should travel to SA to collect the money”, said NSHR executive director Phil ya Nangoloh.

WAD’s Executive Director Veronica de Klerk on June 1 2010 said that her organization has received reliable information that three SA women of Xhosa and Afrikaans extraction have already entered Namibia and are recruiting Namibian girls for the mushrooming and lucrative sex industry in SA during the FIFA World Cup, scheduled to officially start on June 11 2010.

“Hence, we are calling upon Namibian families to be extra vigilant about sudden employment and other lucrative offers in SA for the young female members of their households. Namibia, with its outrageous unemployment rate and extremely high female joblessness, is a primary target of human traffickers”, warned ya Nangoloh.

In case of additional comment, please call Steven Mvula or Phil ya Nangoloh at Tel: (+264 61) 253 447 / 236 183) or Mobile: +264 811 406 888 (office hours) or +264 8129 12948 (Steven) or +264 811 299 886 (Phil) or E-mail: nshr@nshr.org.na

I am just loosing words to describe this so-called 2010 Parliament in Namibia. Firstly, it was forced upon us as it is under a cloud of “rigged” elections.

Its legitimacy is being disputed in Court. Secondly, it consists of a mostly recycled clique (as MPs and Ministers) of the past five years which was tainted by political party worshipping, dozing, absence without official leave (awol), passing the ill/un-researched and unconstitutional laws, reading for leisure, chatting (whispering), passing notes and interrupting other lawmakers during the deliberations.

I wonder why President Hifikepunye Pohamba chose to retain/recall some of these good-for-nothing honorables into the Executive and Legislature. The only good reason being to maintain “unity” in Swapo Party than the effective and efficient delivery of services to the nation. I call upon Informanté newspaper to re-publish the last year’s picture of the “sleeping, bored and sick” ministers for the public to see how many are still ‘hanging’ in there!


As if their legitimacy is not doubted enough in the public eye, they are even more useless than before. The budget debate was used as a tool to worship and praise-sing for their political allegiance, exaggeration and manipulates the truth at the expense of immunity.

The opposition party Members of Parliament seem to have joined the sinking ship just to get a share in ‘digging the gold’. There is no sense in what is going on in that August House. I could not believe my eyes when I read and saw Minister of ICT, Joel Kaapanda, busy reading the newspaper, again, while the proceedings of the Parliamentary debate is going on. This is the same Minister who is threatening the ordinary people as “insulting leaders” and investigative newspapers with his Spy Bill as “misleading the public with the unsubstantiated rumours” and “publishing whatever they want”.

Can Kaapanda be told that he is serial betrayer of the Namibian people? First, he is a Cabinet Minister and Spokesperson of the Government. Secondly, he is an MP. Thirdly, he is deputy Secretary for Information for the Swapo Party. Is reading the newspapers under the table part of his parliamentary activities or he is doing his ministerial work at the expense of making laws? If he is so in love with the accessibility to information in general, including reading the newspapers, why is he not brave enough to stand up and call for an end to the reactionary ban on The Namibian newspaper? When is he bringing back our popular phone-in programs on NBC-Radio?

An embarrassing moment is when former Minister of ‘Law and Order (Safety and Security)’ who is currently Minister of Veterans’ Affairs, Dr. Nickey Iyambo, was caught by the camera having joined the bandwagon of chaotic behavior. Some of these people should have been senior enough to set personal examples to the new Parliamentarians. The secret scandal was exposed when Minister of Labour, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, was trapped with his pants down while using their much-hated SMS service. I have to state here that even the opposition MPs are equally guilty and addicted to the use of SMSes while Parliament is in session. I can mention the names with authority if that needs be! What they do is to keep their cellphones on silent tone. They are busy communicating with the non-MPs (the romantic/political/economic “hibernators”) throughout the deliberation-as far as until 21h00. This is political sickness of the highest order!

If these people can arrogate themselves to an extent that they ignore the camera and journalists watching them, what about when they and their subordinates are not watched at their offices? And, the Speaker of the National Assembly-who surprised me with a prepared and typed-up speech during his so-called re-election-seems to be indifferent in his approach. Dr. Theo Ben Gurirab, the young blood in Parliament wants the support staff to do more research for them on the pertinent, national issues. Historians, political students and analysts, and researchers are still waiting for the liberation of the Minutes of the Constituent Assembly” which are still under the carpet (in Robben Island) for the past 20 years. It time that Namibian politicians are made to stop abusing, misused and exploiting the title “Honourable” in this country.

Steven Mvula
Human Rights Activist

In today’s world you need to continuously upgrade your skills and be able to provide proof of your expertise and skills. This is very clear in Namibia and can be seen by the number of tertiary training schools teaching business and technical skills.

Once you have undergone the training, it is important to ensure that you are certified as well. In technology this means getting international certification, probably through Prometrix or similar examination board. These certifications provide the recognition you need to excel in your career and provides employers with validation of your skills.

If you would like to understand the language IT people use to define their qualifications, read on about the Microsoft certifications below.

Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS)
The Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS) credential validates skills in using the 2007 Microsoft Office system and the Windows Vista operating system, meeting the demand for the most up-to-date skills on the latest Microsoft technologies. Candidates who successfully complete the program by passing a certification exam show that they can meet globally recognized performance standards.
To earn the Microsoft Office 2007 Master certification, you must pass the following MCAS exams:
• MCAS: Microsoft Office Word 2007
• MCAS: Microsoft Office Excel 2007
• MCAS: Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007
• MCAS: Microsoft Office Outlook 2007

Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)
The Technology series is designed for IT professionals and developers who want to demonstrate their skills and in-depth knowledge on a specific Microsoft technology. The Technology Series Certifications typically consist of one, two, or three exams, and are focused on a key Microsoft software or technology. They do not include job role skills, and are retired when mainstream product support for the related technology expires.

Microsoft Certified IT Professional and Certified Professional Developer (MCITP and MCPD)
The Professional series is designed for the experienced IT professional and validates a comprehensive set of technology skills necessary to be successful in a particular job role. It’s for the individual who wants to validate his or her skills beyond technology prowess, and includes design, planning, deployment, and operations management. By validating a more comprehensive set of skills, these credentials give candidates and their hiring managers a reliable indicator of on-the-job performance.

The two Professional series credentials—Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) and Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD)—typically consist of one, two, or three exams and require one or more prerequisites from the Technology series as well as periodic re-certification.

Microsoft Certified Master Series
Master Series Certifications identify individuals with the deepest technical skills on a particular Microsoft technology. The program recognizes experienced IT professionals who can successfully design and implement solutions that meet the most complex business requirements. The strength of the program is advanced, experience-based training and testing on Microsoft technologies that goes beyond any product training offered outside of Microsoft today. The Master Series Certifications have prerequisite exams from the Technology Series and Professional Series and require the candidate to attend and complete all training. A final qualification lab exam focuses on a single technology platform.

Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA)
The Microsoft Certified Architect program makes it easy for companies to identify experienced IT architects who have completed a rigorous peer review process and exhibit exemplary business IT skills and a proven ability to deliver business solutions. The MCA program identifies prestigious professionals that have a minimum of ten years of advanced IT industry experience and three or more years of experience as a practicing architect. They possess strong technical and managerial skills, and form an elite community. Unlike other industry certifications, this credential was built, and is granted by the architect community. The Architect Series Certifications have a rigorous and competitive entry process, require the candidate to work closely with a mentor who is a Microsoft Certified Architect, and culminate in an oral review in front of certified architects. Microsoft Certified Architects are required to periodically refresh their certification.

Certifications for Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics is a line of integrated, adaptable business management solutions that automate and streamline financial, customer relationship, and supply chain processes in a way that helps drive business success. The Microsoft Dynamics Certification program identifies individuals who can help deliver comprehensive business management solutions. There are two Microsoft Dynamics Certification titles—Microsoft Certified Business Management Specialist and Microsoft Certified Business Management Professional.
Microsoft Dynamics Certifications typically have single exams for each Microsoft Dynamics or related business technology, along with other exams for other Microsoft technologies, such as SQL Server. The pre-determined set of required and elective exams for this set of certifications focuses on three specific knowledge areas for one Microsoft Dynamic product: applications, developer, and installation and configuration.

Proposed Charter of Namibian Consumer Rights
1. The right to basic goods and services which guarantee survival.
2. The right to be protected against the marketing of goods or the provision of services that are hazardous to health and life.
3. The right to be protected against dishonest or misleading advertising or labelling.
4. The right to choose products and services at competitive prices with an assurance of satisfactory quality.
5. The right to express consumer interests in the making and execution of government policy.
6. The right to be compensated for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or unsatisfactory services.
7. The right to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to be an informed consumer.
8. The right to live and work in an environment which is neither threatening nor dangerous and which permits a life of dignity and well-being.

Whenever we hear about consumer rights, we must look closely, because there is sure to be a “consumer activist” in the area. What is this activist doing and what is their goal?

According to definition, consumer activism is undertaken on behalf of consumers to assert consumer rights. Goals can include making products or services that are directed at consumers safer, of better quality as well as making them more readily available. The ideal goal is to push consumers to question the morality of a purchased product's origins.
Consumer activist tactics can include boycotts, petitioning the government, media activism, and organising interest groups

The most common tactic is to have protest marches in order to gain political influence (make the politicians listen). By gaining this influence, the group gains new political opportunities as well as access to resources such as donor money, to use for their benefit. This in turns allows for funding of further activities to protest and get the message heard.

One of the most important decisions by a consumer protection group must be the identification of a visible, clear, and despicable target that will allow for unification and mobilisation of consumers.

In Namibia, there are many businesses (and their products) that make consumers angry. In an informal survey, they most common culprits are banks, insurance companies and government. As for products, the most often cited is the lack of control on freshness of products, be they fruit and vegetables, milk or bread.

The most vexing question must remain however, what power do consumers have. It is easy to advocate not “banking for a day”, or not buying from a certain retailer, but this would need concerted effort from all consumers, not just the activists.
Consumers need to stand up for their rights. Government has to enact legislation to protect consumers, AND punish businesses that do not comply.

The Namibia Consumer Protection Group is holding a protest march on 15 March 2010 to push for recognition of this day as Consumer Rights Day.

A life lesson I remember from a teacher was about “asking God for something”. I had a successful career, happy family and most everything money could buy. During this time I prayed to God to help me establish my own business. But, instead of God answering my prayers, I found myself losing some of the wonderful things I had. One of my mentors saw how dejected I was and asked, “what’s the matter?” Upon hearing my story, he replied, “Oh, Milton. God is just making space in your hands for the next present. Your hands were just too full!”
So whenever I face adversity and see my possessions becoming less, I know it is God making more space for that big gift he has prepared for me!

Oh, the Places You'll Go!
I'm sorry to say so
But, sadly it's true
That bang-ups and hang-ups
Can happen to you.
Let’s be sure when we step.
Step with care and great tact
And remember that Life’s a great balancing act.

The above poem comes from Dr Seuss and I read it for the first time when I was around 13 years old. It is with surprise that when I look back at many of the things I believe in, and that drove me to become what I am, come from the reading material I had available.

I must therefore, do more to ensure that those children who come after me, have the same (if not more) access to reading material.:cool:

"History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquity." - Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC), Pro Publio Sestio

For the past three months I have once again been staying Khomasdal, in what was the old coloured area of Windhoek. It has been really fun meeting up with some of my old friends, especially when we take part in the coloured sport of drinking. ;-)

I am staying directly behind my Grandmother's house, which is now owned by my Uncle. Most of the people staying in the four blocks around my flat are the same people who have been staying there for the past 30 years or more. The area itself has changed very little, and the business districts are made up of primarily retailers, take-aways, night clubs, bottle-stores and shebeens.

As I walk down memory lane and remember my past loves and sins, I realised very little of the history of the people has been written.

So If not me, then who?

I will thus be writing a book on the history of the coloured families and their influence on Namibia. It includes historical data,photographs and most importantly the personalities in politics, business, religion, education, etc.

Feel free to contact me on miltonlouw@gmail.com if you wish to collaborate.

"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two."
-St. Augustine

Namibia has gone through various political changes over the past two centuries. One thing however is always constant. Once the political change occurs, there is a realisation that political independence means very little without economic ownership change. When the English ruled over Southern Africa they had the economic might. The Afrikaner took over and had to create state institutions such as the “Eerste Nasionale Ontwikkelings Korporasie” (ENOK or First National Development Corporation) to allow Afrikaner businessmen to get a share of the economic pie. The also created other institutions that should be supported by their people to become as powerful as the English ones, for example banks and insurance companies (Sanlam, Santam, etc.).

In much the same way, the black people of Namibia need to become participants in the economy. The first efforts were made in the early 1990’s to unite the two chambers of commerce, namely the Windhoek CCI and Windhoek Business Chamber. This resulted in the Namibia National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the predecessor of the present NCCI.

This was one of the most challenging times in my working life. The mistrust of decades had to be plastered over for the sake of the country and our newly created democracy. We succeeded.

BUT, we only plastered over the problem. The black majority is still not participating in the meaningful way promised by the politicians. Or for that matter, the way the previous English and Afrikaner political movements allowed their voters to prosper.

Did you know?
• The fifth biggest “country” in the world is Facebook. That’s right, a country that only exists on the Internet has over 200 million people sharing their thoughts, photographs, birthdays, love lives, interests and causes with one another. In the “Nation of Facebook” your every thought is shared with all your friends at once. They can indicate if they like it, or make a comment. In addition, you or a friend can “write on the wall” if you wish to send each other private messages. The photographs area allows you to upload any of your photos and share them instantly with those you know. The best feature is the ability to tag a friend, and everyone they know will be informed that a photo has been loaded.

• In the Twitter application an actor, Ashton Kutcher, beat the news company CNN to having a million users following their “twitting” (Twitter is a service that allows you to send and post SMS messages to a network of contacts.) Kutcher had challenged CNN to the Twitter race, saying he would donate 10,000 mosquito bed nets to charity for World Malaria Day in late April if he beat CNN, and 1,000 if he lost. CNN agreed to do the same. "It's a turning point in media. He's one person who uses a free media platform to reach a large audience. And that really hasn't been done before," Cherwenka said. "He didn't spend a penny on this. And that's kind of the point of any kind of social activity on the Web."

• Digital divide is shrinking through the use of mobile technologies, in countries such as South Africa, Nigeria and Namibia especially in mobile telephony. More than half of the Namibian population has a cellular phone.

• ICTs are technologies that enable us to receive, disseminate and share information and knowledge as well as to communicate – they are the foundation of the Information Society and Knowledge Economy. The Polytechnic of Namibia is a mirror site for most of the information libraries across the world and a key node for connecting Namibia to the information highway.

• Telecommunication is technically defined as the transportation of information from point A to B. Telecom has a fibre optic cable covering almost all of Namibia – a fully digital transmission network (6500 km of Fibre Routes).

What does all this mean for Namibia?
Our challenges are:
• Nationally – the imbalances in basic infrastructure, education, health and government services
• Globally – the technological advances far outpace our national development

“Poverty does not only refer to lack of income, but also includes:
• the deprivation of basic capabilities;
• the deprivation of information needed for meaningful participation in society
• and lack of access to:
• education
• healthcare
• natural resources
• employment
• land and credit
• political participation
• services
• infrastructure, etc.

Neither investment in ICTs or access alone is sufficient for development to occur, ICTs must also mediate the delivery of useful services and civic interaction that contribute to the economic and social well being of the community.”

Creating a better future, Today
Namibia can use the latest technology to the benefit of all its residents. The attitude to education which is presently geared to becoming an industrial country, must be changed to a system where knowing where the information is available is more important than having the information in your head. This means moving from our present agricultural society to a knowledge-base society within five years.

This leapfrogging into a knowledge-based society can be assisted by creating an ICT Action Group (IAG) reporting directly to the President. The IAG should consist of four staff members, of which two should be young people under the age of twenty-five. (The (male and female) staff member should each have software programming skills and should also participate in gaming leagues such as Starcraft. In addition, they should have a minimum competency in the number of words they can SMS per minute on their cellular phone.)

The objectives of the IAG:
• Advise the President and Cabinet on ICT.
• Ensure ICT capability of all members of the Cabinet and their staff.
• Create a Government Ministerial scorecard on Information and Communication Technologies. This includes a baseline survey of computer equipment and civil servant skills, as well as monitoring the information availability over government websites.
• Oversee the creation of a central register for Namibia.
• Ability to declare certain areas to be under-serviced and secure funds from the universal service fund to roll-out infrastructure
• Identify international trends such as Facebook and Chat with the view of encouraging local sites that are able to provide the same service. A social network site for people located in Namibia (in other words within a national local area network) is within the capability of the Polytechnic or UNAM. This will encourage innovation and access to information.
• Promote local content development to enhance the National Identity.
• Host free internet websites for any resident of Namibia.

The funding for the Internet Action Group will come directly from the Universal Fund that is contributed to by the telecommunications companies in Namibia.

For a period of two years I lived in Ausspannplatz close to the police headquarters. This area was previously the place travellers would stop and leave their wagons before entering Windhoek. (“Aus spann” means to let the cattle free to graze.) There is a small park and two traffic circles in the area. This is the downtown of the city.

As in most cities and towns around the world, the downtown has become a night life area filled with bars and casinos. Of course, where there is money and alcohol, there are also prostitutes and drugs.

When my forefathers (the Plaatjies family) came to Windhoek, they had a business in the area – opposite where the Ministry of Transport and Works is today. Not surprisingly, I found some of the people still remember my family in the area.

But it is the night life that was the most interesting. The area starts to come alive with the “night people starting around 16H00. The first “ladies” start appearing as their customers pass by before heading to their respective homes. Alcohol is being bought for the night ahead as it is cheaper from the bottle store than at the bar. The men in the area are either “boyfriends”, (who share the income with their girlfriends), drug peddlers – mostly marijuana, or petty thieves.

I have spent many an interesting evening with the people of the area and have never felt threatened by anyone. However, life and death are ever present. This can be through knife fights, being shot by the robbery victim or police, or while asleep on the railway lines.

During this period I met a young lady who was living in the area and we became more than just friends. I later moved to another part of Windhoek and she moved with me. However, this part of town and the people in the area were too part of her life. We later broke up and she returned to spending her day and nights in Ausspannplatz. Unfortunately, she became sick and as it was untreated it led to pneumonia. She passed away three days after being admitted to the hospital.

Elmarie Motswana was only 24 years old.

Her story began when she was 13 years old. Her mother and stepfather worked as labourers on a commercial farm close to Mariental. She became pregnant and had a baby boy at this age. Barely literate and with no hope, she moved to Windhoek to get another chance at schooling. Within a few months the lights of the city had bedazzled her and she went missing from her family’s house.

She created a new history for herself and over the next ten years she became Elmarie Motswana. She had played soccer at school and had gone with the school team to Brazil. Her mother was a rich lady from Katutura, but she hardly went home because her stepfather did not like her. And so it went on with each passing year and less and less of the true Elmarie stayed behind. Only after her passing, was I able to piece together some of her past.