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Where does NEPAD come into these socio-economic activities [that] I dealt with and what is the view of the Namibian Government on the way forward?
My response is frank and straightforward. Namibia is firmly committed to the African Union (AU) and its implementation and development programme, NEPAD. Contrary to misguided views of some, NEPAD is the brainchild of the African Union. It was created for the purpose of promoting advancement and prosperity of our continent. It is not an alternative to the African Union, which is its motherbody.
Cabinet has established a Ministerial Committee to popularize the African Union and coordinate NEPAD initiatives and projects in the country. Cabinet did this with a view to ensuring that Namibians themselves assert ownership of NEPAD and drive its programmes. We must, therefore, prevent NEPAD from being turned into a surreptitious conduit for fly-by-night business, consultancy and ICT usurpers, with only self-enrichment tendencies, and not the social welfare of the people.
NEPAD has got an important role to play in Africa’s search for economic reforms and growth, democracy, poverty reduction, security and integration. Namibia will continue to invest in human capital and play its determined role, together with other African countries and partners, towards realizing our continent’s aspiration for a new beginning and enhanced productivity.
NEPAD economic targets should include capacity building, infrastructure, land reform, agriculture and water, food security and rural development. Political good governance and economic productivity go hand-in-hand. On the other hand, unjust, foreign imposed conditionalities, under the pretext of good governance must be resisted vigorously. Partnership is a two-way street based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. Africans cannot ignore our own responsibilities. We must build credibility, strengthen unity and maximize self-reliance. That’s the only way to make a real success of self-development and empowerment.
Thinking through time, let me now take up the much talked about but manifestly deceptive issue of the NEPAD so-called Peer Review Mechanism (PRM). Firstly, I shall, with due respect, consign it to the dustbin of history as a sham. Secondly, PRM is an unworkable notion. I see it as a misleading, new name for the old, discredited structural adjustment fiasco, under which African leaders have been clustered between good guys and bad guys.
Lest we forget, neo-colonialism – which is what PRM is - is a killer disease; we must run away from it. NEPAD should confine itself strictly to issues of economic growth, investment, employment creation, capacity building and social transformation. And the others I mentioned earlier. NEPAD has no business dealing with political, security and conflict resolution issues.
These serious issues of war and peace will be dealt with by the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, Conflict Resolution Mechanism, Pan-African Parliament and Regional Peacekeeping Structures. For now, the AU Presidency and its Bureau of Heads of State and Government will be able to respond effectively to any crisis situation on the continent.
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