Why Namibia’s new political leadership must turn the achievements of independence into jobs, opportunities, dignity and inclusive prosperity.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has raised an important question Namibia can no longer avoid: what should political independence mean in the everyday life of an ordinary Namibian? Her assertion that independence must translate into tangible opportunities deserves applause. Namibia has been politically independent for more than three decades, yet many citizens continue to struggle with unemployment, housing, poverty and limited economic opportunities. This isn’t an argument against independence achievements but for completing the work it enabled. The liberation generation’s main task was political liberation; today, the focus must be economic transformation-turning sovereignty into economic opportunity, dignity, and inclusive prosperity. Namibia needs a new political philosophy centered on service, empowerment, accountability, and results, not just power and positions. While political freedom enables voting and participation, rights alone can’t guarantee food, jobs, or affordable housing.
Official statistics show Namibia’s 2023 unemployment rate at 36.9%, with youth unemployment at 44.4%. Behind these figures are people: graduates jobless for years, parents supporting unemployed children, and youth accepting informal work as unemployment persists. These statistics reflect delayed independence, financial dependence, lost skills, and sometimes hope. Citizens have political independence but limited economic freedom. In housing, families may have a working parent but can’t afford formal accommodation. When rent is unaffordable, they move furniture between rentals or informal settlements. Children change schools, families relocate, yet homeownership remains out of reach.
Housing signifies dignity, security, and economic freedom, beyond urban planning. Blaming politicians oversimplifies Namibia’s challenges, which are structural and political. Its small market, reliance on capital-intensive industries, limited manufacturing, and low local value addition hinder employment. Limited access to finance, land, infrastructure, and markets also restricts small businesses. This shows why economic growth doesn’t automatically mean prosperity. The real question is how much mobility that growth creates for ordinary Namibians. That is a more meaningful measure of economic freedom. Namibia’s political landscape is changing. The 2024 elections created a more competitive Parliament and strengthened newer political groups. This should be seen as an opportunity for democratic renewal.
Namibia shouldn’t link new politicians with new politics because they can replicate old traits or disconnect from citizens. Opposition roles don’t ensure better governance, and new politicians can become old quickly. Renewal depends on integrity, public engagement, practical policies, resource accountability, and prioritising national interest over loyalty. Ascension Day signifies a responsibility shift, highlighting leadership as stewardship and guiding followers to uphold a mission. A president, minister, governor, councilor, or parliamentarian doesn’t own public office; they hold it in trust for citizens. Leaders should ask, “What have I done with this responsibility, and what am I leaving behind?”
Power should empower others, not make leaders indispensable. Namibia needs this philosophy for economic freedom. Government should support manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, renewable energy, fisheries, technology, fast-track serviced land and affordable housing, expand small business opportunities, promote local value addition, and improve political accountability. Politicians should report on actual achievements such as jobs created, businesses grown, land serviced, and citizens’ benefits, not just announced programmes. This shifts accountability from rhetoric to results.
Namibia can learn from international experience without copying foreign political systems. Singapore emphasises long-term planning, strong institutions, and human capital development through investments in education, infrastructure, technology, and economic competitiveness. Namibia needs resilient institutions and strategies to withstand political cycles.
Estonia demonstrates how digital government enhances public services; Namibia can leverage technology to reduce paperwork, travel, and delays, especially for rural citizens and businesses. Botswana’s diversification beyond diamonds highlights the need to develop other sectors. Namibia should identify industries, skills, and businesses to develop around its minerals, fisheries, and oil and gas resources. Natural resources should be skills, companies, technology, employment, and citizen ownership, not just exports. Successful leadership isn’t about younger politicians or new parties, but about new governing methods. New leadership should prioritise long-term planning, measurable goals, efficient services, diversification, and citizen participation over short-term survival, vague promises, bureaucracy, sector dependence, or reliance on government. Education must connect to economic transformation to give young Namibians pathways into employment, not just qualifications. Schools, universities, and vocational institutions should collaborate with productive sectors. Education should build capability, productivity, and opportunity, not just certificates. While political parties are vital to democracy, loyalty should never override Namibia’s national interest. The principles are simple: country before party, public interest before personal, service before privilege, results before rhetoric. Opposition parties must do more than point out issues like unemployment, poverty, or housing shortages; they need to explain their solutions and success criteria. Namibia needs political competition focused on ideas, solutions, and measurable outcomes, not just accusations. President Nandi-Ndaitwah rightly recognizes that independence must be paired with economic freedom. But recognition is just the start; implementation is the real challenge. The unemployed graduate experiences policy when given a job. The informal-settlement family values housing policy with secure land and services. The entrepreneur feels empowered with access to finance and markets. The farmer sees development through infrastructure and market access.
Namibia’s leadership should focus on economic transformation from liberation to promoting employment, dignity, ownership, and inclusive prosperity, which is the current generation’s main task. The new political philosophy should be clear: shift from power to service, promises to performance, political freedom to economic freedom, dependency to empowerment, party loyalty to national interest, resource extraction to citizen participation, and leadership as privilege to stewardship.
*Absalom Kamutjemo is a resident of Epako, Gobabis. He can be reached at akamutjemo@yahoo.com
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