A people united
Sitting down with Dr Sam Nujoma
Namibia celebrates 33 years of Independence tomorrow (21 March) under the theme "A people united for prosperity" reflecting the determination of the people to soldier on amidst facing many challenges.
“A people united, striving to achieve a common good for all the members of the society, will always emerge victorious.”This was the message from Namibia’s Founding Father, Dr Sam Nujoma, during a recent interview.
This celebration also allows for reflection on the many achievements and progress made during the country’s history. “The resilience, courage and unity of the Namibian people have been the qualities necessary for our country to overcome the challenges of the relatively early years of nationhood,” he said.
Nujoma, who launched Vision 2030 in 2004, still believes that it is achievable in the remaining seven years. “This vision was set to guide us in making deliberate efforts to improve the quality of life of our people to the level of their counterparts in the developed world by the year 2030,” he said.
Vision 2030 is based on careful analyses and reviews of Namibia’s past and current experience in development, given its natural resources and financial resources, and its cultural, and regional and international context.
“This Vision is still valid and achievable in the remaining seven years as the progress and the results we have achieved are grounded in our planning and implementation efforts through successive National Development Plans. Since 2016, the first and second Harambee Prosperity Plans are products of intensive countrywide consultations with diverse constituencies of our country and are informed by the recommendations from the High-Level Panel on the Namibian Economy; the African Union Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want; the United Nations Sustainable Goals; and more importantly, contributions by citizens from the length and breadth of our country.”
Asked if Nujoma is proud of the Namibia he had a hand in creating, he said that despite taking giant steps and making undeniable progress, the nation has experienced the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. “Since the dawn of our freedom we have made undeniable progress in responding to the basic needs of our people,” he said.
According to him, Namibia is harvesting dividends for prosperity in the investment area.
“I trust that as a country, we will stay on course in this regard, mindful of the imperative to unite all Namibians as one people and emerge a strong force.”