Namibia at 36!

Namibia at 36!

By Apostle Felix

7  And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
8  And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Exodus 3: 7, 8

Namibia turns thirty six years of independence from colonialism today. I have enjoyed twenty two years of the years of independence. Namibian got its independence in 1990 from the then apartheid regime of South Africa. The independence from colonialism across Africa has great significance because it reminds us that man is equal regardless of one’s skin color, social status or race. No other man was meant to subjugate another fellow man. No one is inferior and no culture is superior to another culture. The purpose of subjugation is to rob one of the identity, hence destine. It has the tendency to dehumanize a group of people because of their language, tribe or race. Independence entails an emancipation from the cruelty of oppression.

The colonized, normally lose their identity. Identifying with the oppressor becomes a prestige, something to pride in. Everything an oppressor does or have is held to the highest esteem because the oppressed has lost his identity. Instead of esteeming his color skin and language, he is trapped into esteeming the color skin and language of the oppressor. Independence is reshaping our identity through esteeming  who we are without despising the oppressor. Real freedom is when we begin to appreciate who we are as a people without any bitterness against the oppressor. Real freedom is to look into the eyes of those who oppressed you and say, ‘I have forgiven you.’

As you celebrate independence today. please remember to do the following:

1. Forgive those who have offended you.

Forgiveness is not for sale. Do not wait the offender to ask for forgiveness before you can forgive. Just forgive. That is real independence.

2. Discover your real identity.

Your real identity is in Christ. Namibia is politically independent, but you and me need independence from the worst oppressor, the devil. This independence can only be found in Jesus Christ. He, Himself said that He is the TRUTH, and knowing the truth brings everlasting freedom.

3. Start working on Financial freedom.

Financial freedom is not solely the responsibility of the government. The responsibility of the government is to make the environment conducive for its citizens to do business. Namibia is conducive for business. Begin to innovate and to establish businesses. We need a generation that shall be creating jobs, than job seeking.

4. Contribute positively to the nation.

Independence will lose meaning and significance when all its citizenry is contributing is regression. The citizens are supposed to corporate with the government of the day to bring about progress and development. In most cases, the citizens offset the development the government is introducing. Development works along side order. Maintaining order in our society is a sign post to development. Keeping our environment clean, such as streets and public places. Avoiding littering around. Keep Namibia clean!

5. Love one another.

Love is power. It is not weakness. The weak is the one who hates the other person. That’s why racism is a weakness on the part of the one practicing it. Do not love on tribal, racial or nationality lines. Love does not know color, tribe, or nationality. Let us break the barriers that have been standing between us for years for us to experience real independence. We are all a big family!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE, NAMIBIA!