Be the change you want to see

Tunohole Mungoba
Kanisius Otto

It is very clear that the majority of Namibians are infected with the fear of changing.

If one is to think very deeply about what is holding back all the development in our country, he or she might conclude that it is the above-mentioned factor.

In addition to the fear of being different or becoming the change we want to see in the society, the nation is also affected by the disease of holding grudges. We are selfish and talk too much with no action. We keep developing areas that are already up there.

God created everyone unique in his or her own way, and that is the strength of every single individual.

Innovation starts with an initiative by an individual, not by a group of people. When making that great million-dollar business idea real, is the only moment when one will need to involve others. Namibia is blessed with natural resources and its people have every capability of turning these resources into a business or a source of income.

At an early stage, citizens must be taught how to do things. The nation should be exposed to new technologies and ensure that it has the know-how. The world is phasing out paperwork and everything is digital. Hard work must be complemented by the know-how of how to build up something with the use of machines and advanced technologies. It is time to build more infrastructure and let the youth unlock the economy.

Yes, theory is needed, but the know-how is very essential, therefore the government must spend more on providing youth with opportunities where they can work on something with their own hands. They should not just be told to pass grade 12.

Businesses should invest in football teams, and be more active when it comes to community activities. The lack of understanding of the term ‘investing’ holds us back. Many business owners expect to start earning back from the team they sponsor at the end of the very first season that they give such sponsorship. No, first you have to grow the team, improve the whole club, ensure that the team has all the necessary facilities and training equipment, and make sure that there’s T-shirts for the fans to buy. You also have to make sure that players are getting paid well. You have to make sure that all the players have access to transport when there is a team meeting. Sponsor the club with a bus. We need to make sure that each and every registered team in all leagues has a sponsor and that players consider sport as a professional career.

Sponsorship is a marketing activity on its own, as it creates brand awareness through the sponsored team. It increases market share and leads to a higher return on investment. One must expect to start getting something back from the sponsored team at least after three to five seasons, as developing a team is difficult. I call on each and every business owner to pick a team and be the reason they are progressing. We call that giving back to society.

Your job must be your passion fellow citizens. It is a shame to see how we are treating each other, yet we keep preaching about love. It is a necessity that employees must be paid reasonable salaries, so that they can afford their daily needs; yet employees must work at their best level to make it clear to their employers why they need a salary increase.

Youth experience the painful and the harsh living conditions we are living in, unlike the seniors, as most seniors have reached the self-actualisation phase in terms of their human needs, where most of them just think about themselves. Give the top positions to the youth, and make the seniors special advisors, to keep reminding the young leaders about the correct culture.

Be a hero and a role model to your children. Avoid the system of comparing your kids to someone else’s children. They are not the same and they will never be the same. Teach your children to appreciate what you can afford, and always be there when they need you.

*Kanisius Otto is a marketing honours degree graduate from the Namibia University of Science and Technology. His hobbies include meeting new people and watching soccer with his friends.