Govt must deal with white fears

A political commentator says that it is up to government to help whites overcome their fears, as there are certain development agendas that can only be achieved if blacks and whites work together. “If there is any fear among white Namibians, the leaders of this country have the responsibility to help them overcome their fears. The status quo cannot continue, because there a certain things in the national developmental policies that we cannot achieve with a divided nation, political commentator Phanuel Kaapama said yesterday. He said perhaps government can start by uniting people through public services, which will “go a long way in patching together things between blacks and white. According to Kaapama although national reconciliation has been achieved, social reconciliation was a challenge. “We do not fight in public, we work together in different, places, but at the end of the day we each retreat to our comfort zones. Blacks are one side and whites on the other, Kaapama said On the issue of whites not attending national events, he said they have a right to do this. “Some people feel that it is their right not to attend national events, but I think it is time they started to think beyond their rights. They need to think that as citizens they have a responsibility towards the country. Kaapama said when one looks at the current generation of political scientists you do not find any white person studying in that direction. The last group of white political science scholars includes Professor André du Pisani, Dirk Mudge and Kosie Pretorius, he said. “Why can’t the white Afrikaner young men and women, study political science? Is it maybe because they think they do not have a future in the country’s politics. He added that political parties have been trying their best to incorporate white Namibians into their ranks, but this remained a challenge. DTA leader McHenry Venaani said national reconciliation has worked well so far, but it is still a work in progress. “We might have reconciled our civil liberties, but we also need to reconcile our economic liberties. There is still that injustice of one group having more and the other having less. Hence, we need to enhance efforts to address this issue. He said there was still much distance between whites and blacks. “We need to build more bridges for them (whites) to be part of national events. Our Silver Jubilee (25 years of independence) should focus on uniting blacks and whites, as well harmonising inter-black relationships. There is need for a political language to bring them on board. Social commentator Rosa Namises said there are no programmes nationally to reconcile the different races, as the national reconciliation policy was never reviewed, revisited and implemented. “Whites are maybe distant from the blacks because of the Affirmative Action and the corruption of a selected few benefiting from the State. We have to meet them halfway. We need to work together to find common ground and a common understanding. WINDHOEK ELVIS MURARANGANDA