There are far too many Namibians who identify with South Africa and its particular culture. Certainly, our southerly neighbour is inextricably linked to Namibia and its people by way of history but we have a tendency to forget that we are an independent country. How often have I heard the words, “We won the rugby”. No, we did not win the rugby, the Springboks, a team from another country won the rugby. One does not hear All Blacks supporters say “We won the rugby” but rather, “My team won the game” or “The All Blacks won.”

The one area where Namibians are fiercely patriotic is with our beer and our meat and biltong products but that is mostly where it ends. How often have you made the choice in a supermarket to, for example, rather purchase Namibian juice or cheese or water? Do you ask your grocer where the Namibian products are? Do you buy Namibian toilet paper or Namibian plastic bags?

And if these products are more expensive, it has everything to do with volumes produced or the mechanism of production. A South African company produces volumes far exceeding ours and in the production of two million units, for example, versus 100 000, costs are impacted upon. Besides volumes, there is also the mechanisation of the production process. This has a direct effect on cost.

This is not to say that we should be anti-South African, in fact, I personally love South Africa and feel part of them as well. But Namibia is my country. It is where I was born, where I live and work and where I will die and I would like to see my countrymen and –women fight for our own and for our resources and help to make this country what it can be.

Namibia is a magical place and we have so many gifts that other countries don’t have – from our wildlife to our natural lands to our amazing climate and all the vast opportunities and potential that exist here. We can make it better but to do it, we must identify with our borders, our currency, our industry and ourselves. Our awareness of ourselves as a nation is pitiful – most of the time.

Yanna Smith – EDITOR

TEAM NAMIBIA

What Namibia need is for all Namibians to associate themselves with Namibia. We need to support what is local and what ultimately will benefit you and the rest of the country. The Namibian market is a lucrative one, hence the influx of foreign companies investing in Namibia and the growth in Namibian entrepreneurs flourishing since independence. In order to protect the goods and services that are made and offered in Namibia, and ultimately, Namibian jobs, Namibians must support local in as far as possible.

Team Namibia is an organisation promoting quality products and services under the Naturally Namibian brand. This is an endorsement brand that signifies a particular company, service or product has met a set of criteria relating to local content (at least 33%), quality (must be of high quality), fair labour and environmental responsibility.

When the consumer sees the Naturally Namibian logo on a product, be proud to know that, the product;

• Is produced in Namibia;
• Is produced by a Namibian workforce, working in fair conditions;
• Is produced to a high standard of quality;
• Is produced without exploiting or harming our already fragile environment.

There are far too many Namibians who identify with South Africa

The aim of the Team Namibia/Naturally Namibian campaign is to stimulate sustainable economic growth, thereby minimizing unemployment, alleviating poverty, which in turn will lead to improved social and economic conditions.

Remember that the more Namibian made products we buy, the more we stimulate local production and this will help create the conditions for producers to seek labourers and in so doing contribute to alleviating unemployment and decrease the cost of our products and services in the long run.

Thus, Team Namibia is an important initiative. It is the mechanism by which to not only build our industries and in that way combat unemployment and all the social evils that accompany it, but also a way in which to build a sense of self and country, a sense of patriotism and loyalty to our flag and our people. So when you turn consumer and you have money to spend, buy local in as far as you possibly can. Look for the Team Namibia flag or find a product that is produced here before you opt for an import.