By Joram Kayofa
Across our continent, from the bustling streets of Katutura to the wider SADC region, there is a troubling tendency to spectate, and sometimes even scoff, when nations like Iran find themselves under siege on the global stage.
Yet, as Namibians, we must pause and ask ourselves a profoundly uncomfortable question. If the very forces that once subjugated and colonised our land were to return today, how long would our Republic genuinely hold out?
Should the geopolitical tides ever turn against us, how long could the Land of the Brave defend its borders against the advanced military apparatus of German, the United Kingdom, the United States or even France?
We need only look towards Europe and Asia for a sobering reality check. These regions are aggressively expanding their domestic weapons industries, investing heavily in modern technologies, and fortifying their own defence systems.
They do not undertake these immense financial burdens out of paranoia or foolishness; rather, they do so because they possess a clear-eyed understanding of how global power functions.
Namibia fought a long, bitter, and bloody liberation struggle to secure its sovereignty. However, relying on foreign powers for our armaments, our military technology, and our ultimate security is not true independence; it is merely a modern iteration of dependence.
Whatever one’s geopolitical stance may be, the inescapable truth is that a nation like Iran is weathering its current crises largely because it relies on indigenous defence capabilities and home-grown technology. It is a stark reminder that true autonomy is underwritten by self-sufficiency.
As Namibians, and indeed as Africans, we must critically reassess what genuine sovereignty demands in the twenty-first century. We can no longer afford to be mere spectators, casually dismissing global conflicts as distant theatre. Instead, we must absorb the harsh, pragmatic lessons of self-reliance before the choice is no longer ours to make.
*Joram N Kayofa is an author of multiple published and unpublished books and articles.
