‘Whites choose careers, blacks beg for work’ – Sisa Namandje

Renthia Kaimbi Legal practitioner Sisa Namandje says black Namibians beg for work while white Namibians choose careers, arguing that almost 37 years after independence, a “deep happiness deficit” persists among the country’s black majority. Delivering the inaugural John Akapandi Endjala Memorial Lecture in Windhoek yesterday on what would have been the late businessman’s 63rd birthday, Namandje, who identified himself as a direct beneficiary of Endjala’s mentorship, delivered the indictment of Namibia’s post-independence economic transformation record. He argued that black Namibians remain unable to pursue the happiness promised in the Constitution’s preamble due to a lack of meaningful legislative and policy action.

Drawing on Article 23(2) of the Namibian Constitution which permits Parliament to enact laws advancing those disadvantaged by apartheid, Namandje accused both the legislature and the executive of timidity, restraint and even modesty in addressing racial economic imbalances. “Let’s admit, not much has happened,” he told the audience. “This is exactly why there remains a deep happiness deficit among black people in Namibia.”