Today is Human Rights Day, aimed at reminding the nation of the ongoing importance of equality, justice, and peace.
Dr. Naftal Ngalangi is a local expert and researcher in Rundu and talks to nbc News about human rights.
There are 30 rights and freedoms that belong to everyone, such as the right to a nationality.
Despite government efforts over the years, there are still a number of people in the Kavango regions who are stateless or undocumented.
‘’The issue of national documents has been a problem for a very, very long time, and it's high time that a deliberate effort needs to be undertaken with a commitment to ensure that this problem is put to rest. We are talking about people who have been residents of this region and this country as early as 1976; that is like 48 years ago. Whether the people have crossed illegally or not, the moment they have been residents of this country for the past 48 years, their rights should be recognized.’’
Stateless persons are often unable to access essential services, and if unattended, this can affect families for generations.
Another human right he delved into is the right to education.
Even though the Ministry of Education's mission is to provide access to equitable and quality education, Dr. Ngalangi says there are a myriad of challenges, such as overcrowded schools as well as a lack of resources.
“If you get into town schools, the size of classrooms has bloated to close to 70 learners in a classroom, and it's an eyesore to look at. The number of schools within Rundu that have corrugated iron sheet classrooms—these are makeshift classrooms—and we are talking about a region where temperatures can rise up to 38 or 39 degrees. You think of how these 70 learners sit in this small classroom made of corrugated iron sheet to receive quality education. In that regard, their right to receive quality education is compromised. We can say access has been provided.’’
Freedom of movement allows people to move and reside wherever they want.
The porous borders found in the Kavango regions and the rise in urbanization mean that there is a lot of movement going on. Dr. Ngalangi emphasized that despite isolated incidents here and there, locals are generally very tolerant.
‘’This sometimes is not broadcasted for people to appreciate how harmonious the locals have been in tolerating other people from different regions to reside with them. Unfortunately, at times, it's just the red flags or the grey areas that come to public attention. You will see that maybe somebody has come from somewhere, and there is resistance from community members to allow that person to reside there. But that is just an isolated incident. There is a good number of people from other regions who are at peace and who coexist with the community members.”
All in all, the local expert says, at the end of the day, human rights are all about dignity, equality, and the need to survive.
Some people in the Kavango regions still don't have access to clean, potable water, although plans are underway to change that in the coming five years.
Dr. Ngalangi also touched on sanitation, saying people deserve to relieve themselves in a dignified manner; therefore, more toilets are needed, especially in the rural areas.