Affirmitive Action

The Merits and Demerits of Affirmative Action
The Namibian constitution is considered as one of the most democratic and well drafted in Africa, and more so globally. However, like any document of political origin, it has its fair share of controversial and debatable issues. In this discussion, the issue of focus is the commonly conversed about Article 23 Chapter 3: Affirmative Action in regards to gender equality. The merits and demerits of this Article will be scrutinized.
Upon achieving independence in 1990, the Namibian nation presented the new leaders with a mammoth task; leading a divided and torn people characterized by gender inequality, tribalism and post-colonial problems such as inequality in accessing health, land and education. In other words, the government was tasked with creating equilibrium in a sea of socio-political and economic chaos. It is from this that the genesis of Affirmative Action in Namibia can be found. According to Ramphele (2007), “affirmative action refers to specific measures taken to remove impediments to the full realization of the potential of individuals or communities. It is a tool or strategy to achieve goals and enable individual and groups to utilize the equal opportunities made available to them in the transformed environment” (p.33) The main proponent for affirmative action is inequality. In the case of Article 23 Chapter 3 of the Namibian nation, the main focus is the acceptance and recognition of women as an integral part of nation building. According to the constitution, “it shall be permissible to have regard to the fact that women in Namibia have traditionally suffered special discrimination and that they need to be encouraged and enabled to play a full, equal and effective role in the political, social, economic and cultural life of the nation” (1998). In this regard, it can be said the focus of Chapter 3 is gender equality In his book, “Affirmative Action in Namibia: Redressing the imbalances of the...