EDITORIAL: We are not xenophobic

In 2020, political greenhorns Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) stated in Parliament that they will deliberately stir up anti-Chinese xenophobia if companies from the Asian country continue to receive public tenders ahead of Namibian entities.

This week, the party’s leadership paid a courtesy visit to State House and used the opportunity to have a go at the appointment of Tanzanian-born James Mnyupe as presidential economic advisor and commissioner for the green hydrogen scheme.

While we agree fully with NEFF on the assertion that Namibians must come first, we do not agree with the veiled suggestion that no foreigners should work or do business in Namibia.

We have Namibians working abroad – should their host nations pay Namibia in her own coin by hounding them out of their jobs as reciprocity for NEEF’s attitude here at home?

Since 1990, Namibians have worked tirelessly to rebuild their country and to reverse the legacy of discrimination. Our progressive constitution outlaws any form of discrimination, including on the basis of nationality.

Xenophobia is thus not only unconstitutional, but also un-Namibian. We must pile pressure on the Geingob administration to review its outlook on local contractors, while continuing to build a society free of discrimination.

We are doing so because we know the pain of being discriminated against because of skin colour, language or nationality.