Ngurare reassures Namibian students in Cuba

Ester Hakaala

For Namibian students studying thousands of kilometres from home, Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare’s visit to Havana, Cuba last week was more than a diplomatic engagement. It was an opportunity for the students to place their daily struggles directly before the Namibian government, and to hear a promise that they would not be abandoned.

Meeting the students at the Namibian Embassy in Havana, Ngurare was confronted with the realities of studying in a country facing severe economic pressures. The students highlighted electricity shortages, which are disrupting their studies, as well as the poor quality of food at their hostels, among other challenges. For young people pursuing demanding qualifications in medicine and engineering, the difficulties can have serious consequences for their academic progress. Yet, according to Ngurare, what stood out most was not the hardship, but the students’ determination to overcome it.

“We cannot be oblivious to the situation which we know is not of your making. We cannot betray you. We will not leave you alone. We will stand with you. Our prayer is for you to succeed,” he said.