This is taken from a letter sent to the Namibian, the writer chose to remain anonymous. I've extracted a few select facts.
Namibia is now 20 years old.
- Black Broad Based Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) and affirmative action policies have only benefited relatively few, who are connected with little change for the masses. (Got to watch out for this boys - huge problem here) Women in general, have been left behind.
- Most can't understand English (official language) – not sure whether this refers to women or the population in general
- It has 2.1 million inhabitants.
- HIV infects about 250 000 citizens.
- About one in four pregnant women is HIV positive.
- There are about 250 000 orphans and vulnerable children, mainly as a result of AIDS.
- The unemployment rate for adults is about fifty percent.
- The poverty cut-off line is about N$7 per person day.
- The average woman in Namibia has about five children.
- Rural, illiterate women tend to have more children than urban, literate women.
- The population growth is about three per cent per annum.
- In order to provide work, six per cent economic growth is needed. At present the economic growth is one per cent.
- Life expectancy has fallen to below 50 years.
If they want to fix this problem they need a properly designed TESEF policy. Not one that mimics South Africa's, but one that takes the best of SAs BEE programme (and there is a fair amount of good) and models it into the Namibian model. If anyone wants my 2 cents' worth email me.
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