In hindsight . . .

BOSSIE COETZER WRITES:I would like to start out by congratulating the Namibian government with successfully containing the Covid-19 virus in Namibia. They reacted quickly and effectively stopped the spread of the virus.However they say that hindsight has 20/20 vision, and now looking back at everything that has happened and is happening in the world, I have to question if that was the right decision for Namibia, Africa or the world.I followed the spread of the virus with great interest, right from the start, and have noticed that the world population, despite this so-called pandemic, is still growing at more than twice the speed of deaths in this world. A world that we have to agree is already overpopulated, with hunger and wars already prevalent before this pandemic. With wild life dying out, because there is no more space for them. With people being kept alive in the name of human rights, regardless if they have any quality of life, are suffering and costing families and governments large amounts of money. Money that could have been spent on schools and development to better the quality of life for healthier more productive people. And yes, it is always sad when someone we love dies, no one wants to lose a loved one.We have to ask ourselves the question what is worse? Watching someone lose their dignity and sense of self because of old age, disease or maybe an accident? Or allowing them to die and remembering them for the happy and vibrant person they were?Most of us agreed in the beginning that containing the spread of the virus was the best way forward. Lockdown seemed like the obvious choice. No one had real information on the virus or how severe and deadly it might be. Some countries decided to take a different approach.In Namibia we went into lockdown with 12 confirmed cases, thinking it would be quick and we will be back in business in no time. For the first time since independence our government had all the power, with a state of emergency called.The old saying goes power corrupts and ultimate power corrupts absolutely. I have to question if this was the case here.Our already struggling economy has come to an almost standstill. People are losing their jobs and businesses are closing their doors. Yet as far as I know our government ministers and employees have not taken a reduction in pay, although you struggle to get service in some departments, because of the state of emergency.Instead of using this time to catch up on the backlog in some departments, people saw this time as a free holiday. With the result that efficiency has declined. And who thought it could decline even more? Amazing.No one seems to die of any other disease anymore. Cancer, Alzheimer's, dementia, the common flu, even old age doesn't seem to kill people anymore. Once we have a cure for Covid-19, there will be no more disease.Covid-19, a flu virus, is here to stay.Let's look at countries which did not follow the norm, like the Netherlands, Sweden and Belarus. These countries trusted their citizens to be responsible, use their intelligence and make decisions for themselves.Something very few people do these days as governments think they have to think for their citizens, with the result that people stop thinking for themselves or take responsibility for their actions.Infection and death rates in these countries are not higher than in countries around them that did follow the protocols.The Australian Prime Minister, and if I am not mistaken also the Minister of Health in the UK, has said that the models used for the Covid-19 virus is wrong. That 98.3% of the population would experience mild or no symptoms, and that of the remaining 2.7% who would be seriously affected, only 1% of the 2.7% would die. And their hospitals and health care is presumably better than ours in Namibia.Let's speculate that 95% of the Namibian population will show mild or no symptoms and 5% would be seriously affected, of which 2% would die. The people affected would presumably be the old or vulnerable. We know who they are and resources can be effectively used to protect them.Of 2.5 million people the 5% affected will be 125 000 of which 2 500 might die. Whereas, as things stand now, everybody's standard of living will decrease and at least 50% of our population will suffer from hunger.As I said, hindsight is 20/20 vision, and yes, it is a very difficult decision to make for any government, because no matter what decision they make there will always be people who will say they were wrong and criticize them. Sometimes being a leader is about being unpopular.I would suggest educating people and trusting them to be responsible and use their intelligence. Open up Namibia, let the virus take its toll, it is going to anyway.This is an opportunity for Namibia to grow and flourish. Everybody will be better off, and yes we will lose some loved ones, but I would rather give them a fighting chance than see them die hungry and sick.

In hindsight . . .

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Republikein 2025-04-11

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In hindsight . . .

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Republikein 2025-04-11

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