Embrace your neighbour: Lessons from Namibian icons

As we reflect on 2030, which is a product of the late Dr Sam Nujoma’s vision where he emphasised the ‘One Namibia, One Nation’ principle with the intention to build a nation without divisions (regionalism, ethnic divisions, or political divisions), I want us to look at our Vision 2030 together.

I want us to look at how we can address some of the divisions that baffle us at times. Former president Hifikepunye Pohamba continued with the principle of Vision 2030 – to build a united nation. We saw him push development all over the country, e.g., the Neckertal Dam Irrigation Scheme and his attempts to house people through the Mass Housing project and build national roads infrastructure.

Sometimes we have to remove the mask and accept that, as a society (nation), we are often guilty of the sin of racism.

We prefer our own ethnic groups to the exclusion of others, and we live with suspicion toward each other. Unless we are humble and strong enough to accept that, in fact, we have a problem, we will not move forward as a nation or society. It is also important to acknowledge our part of the problem. It is not only the other person who has a problem. This is a collective sin that we must all be repentant of.

In the Bible, Jesus also addressed very critical issues concerning human relations.

A long feud existed between the Jews and the Samaritans that led to a face-off between the two ethnic groups. One of the major critical issues that the text addresses is that of stereotyping people. In the eyes of the Jews, the Samaritans could not do anything good. For Jews, the Samaritans were the ones who would cause trouble and not show compassion (Luke 10:25-37).

Social construct

Stereotyping people can blind us to others' potential and their gifts.

Stereotypes are a social construct. We are not born with these attitudes, believing that some people are inferior to us. Only over time do people start developing unhealthy attitudes towards each other to the point where they start believing ill of each other.

Initially, such a stereotype seems harmless. For example, one may believe that people of a certain ethnic group are lazy or loud or whatever other seemingly innocent label. Children imitate their parents and start thinking their ethnic group is better than another; however, over time this can lead to social exclusion.

This is what happened between the Jews and Samaritans. What are some of the ways we pigeonhole people and prevent them from being who they truly are?

And what are the dangers of such stereotyping? According to an article in The Namibian, dated 8 April 2019, a wave of attacks took place in South Africa from 2008 to 2015 and in recent years, specifically targeting refugees and migrants. More than 60 people were reported to have been killed, and thousands displaced.

In 2015, there were outbreaks of violence against non-South Africans, mostly in the cities of Durban and Johannesburg. The country is a host to millions of foreign nationals. Many of them are economic or political refugees from across Africa, including DRC, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia and Zimbabwe.

The same could be said about the current situation in DRC now, where M23 rebels are fighting the government, citing exclusion on tribal grounds.

One of the challenges we face today is how to co-exist with people of different nationalities who live in our countries.

At a time when there is significant travel, many immigrants in our countries, and numerous asylum seekers, the question is how we can live alongside one another.

In many of our countries, whenever a crime occurs, the first people to be suspected are those who are foreign among us.

One of the most haunting questions which is even Biblical for our times is: Who is my neighbour?

But it is not enough to just know who our neighbours are or to put people in categories of our choice; we also need to find ways to live with our neighbours irrespective of their colour or where they come from.

The late Hage G. Geingob often preached about building an inclusive home where no colour, race or tribe is visible – a home where no one feels left out. Therefore, in memory of his life and legacy, we are reminded to keep pulling in one direction, in the spirit of Harambee.

Now, the challenge is to the incoming president-elect, Her Excellency Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, as well as to every proud Namibian, to ensure that the golden standard established in this article about nation building is sustained.

*Reverend Jan A Scholtz is the former chairperson of the //Kharas Regional Council and former !Nami#nus constituency councillor. He holds a diploma in theology, B-Theo (SA), a diploma in youth work and development from the University of Zambia (UNZA), as well as a diploma in education III (KOK) BA (HED) from UNISA.