In THE SPOTLIGHT this time is the The Press Conference, addressed by Cde. Lazarus Shiimi [Gazza], Ambassador of the Ministry of Education and Namibian artist, on 20th February 2010 at the Official Opening of the SPYL Central Committee meeting, OKAHANDJA, OTJOZONDJUPA REGION.

Dear Comrades and Friends,

Here on our continent there is a saying that “it takes a village to raise a child”, I want to paraphrase it that “it takes the whole country to educate a child”. Truly, education is a fountain of knowledge. Education is also based on harnessing one’s talent and creativity. This is why our Government has since independence allocated the largest budget to education. Since independence we have trained many young Namibians as teachers, nurses, doctors and scientists etc, but we still have a long way to go. I appeal to the SWAPO Party Youth League (SPYL) to continue advocating for more assistance to be given to education. If the youth are the future leaders of tomorrow, then every effort must be made to empower them equally, the poor and the rich. It is well known that rural schools are not fully equipped as compared to urban schools. This disparity creates the impression amongst some of our youth in rural areas to think that the only better life is in the city and not in the rural areas and thus they come to Zula for survival in the city, as we say in music.

In this regard, I think music is culture and music is arts, but music is also politics and a medium of education and communication. As an Ambassador of the Ministry of Education, I have gone throughout the country and visited several schools. At every level, I have met young people who are eager and thirsty for knowledge and yearning for quality education. There are many who want to be like Gazza and there are many who want to be musicians in remote areas of our country. It is our national duty therefore to help nurture and cultivate these dreams of our young people. I want to commend the Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare, for example, which is advocating on increasing the training of Namibian social workers. It is obvious that we have numerous social problems in the country especially and affecting the youth the hardest. It is important also that we train many social workers and encourage young Namibians to pursue a field of study in social work. As young people, we also have a duty and obligation to behave responsibly at all material times. Let us say loudly NO to violence against women; NO to alcohol and drug abuse; NO to unpatriotic conducts and Yes to peace and stability in our country.

My message to the candidate of the SWAPO Party in Okahandja is this that you are on the ticket of SWAPO and must deliver on the promises to the electorate. You need to place emphasis on education because an educated nation is a successful nation. I also appeal to our Government Ministries and Parastatals to continue building the capacity of our youth in all fields of study including music. I also would like to commend our Government for the investment in tertiary education especially in the establishment of School of Engineering and Medicine as part of the University of Namibia. Above all, as a young person, I am proud that, Namibia, under the SWAPO Party, has remained an oasis of peace, stability and economic prosperity. That is why I agree with my comrades in the SWAPO Party Youth League that we must remain patriotically stubborn in demanding for Genuine Economic Empowerment, Youth Empowerment and Rural Development especially quality education in rural areas where majority of our youth live. At this point, I want to urge all the youth and the entire country to support The Terminator Harry Simon as he is boxing tonight in Kenya in order for him to come and fight for the Commonwealth Title here in the Land of the Brave. He is a truly Namibian Hero and we are a duty bound to support him, because a true hero is not defined by his mistakes or his fall but how he gets up. And Terminator has indeed gotten up!

Finally, SWAPO has won before in Okahandja, SWAPO will again win in Okahandja on 24 February 2010, and SWAPO will forever win in Okahandja and in Namibia because SWAPO Party is the people and the people are SWAPO Party.

Long Live SWAPO Party, Long Live GMP!

Please lets discuss this issue by posting comments on the BLOG!    Comment now

Monday, 22nd February 2010, 15:48:01