International University of Management (IUM) founder David Namwandi has singled out some regional leaders who the says have flexed their muscles in the past to the detriment of development.
He also lauded those who have shown willingness and urgency to help to bring education closer to communities and thanked those in the Erongo region, as well as Ohangwena who had made land available to construct hostels.
“We are constructing a centre at Okahao. The governor of the Oshana region promised to give us land for something and they are moving fast. We did not struggle to get land. We got it quickly and construction started. These are the types of people to lead the nation. Others, who are tired, must go home and rest. We cannot afford to have Namibians go home or sleep with heavy hearts because of people that are occupying offices to flex their muscles. It is unacceptable,”Namwandi said.
He was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the new N$38 million state-of-the-art IUM coastal campus at Walvis Bay.
He also highlighted the importance of education being offered close to communities to reduce the costs of higher education and make it more accessible to all in society.
Namwandi said some regions had even proposed giving land for free, which the university management refused. “We do not want to be given anything for free or even to be assisted by the government through subsidies to buy land or to infrastructure. We want to struggle because there is a future in struggling. The government is faced with a lot of responsibilities. Let the money be used for those responsibilities. Let the private sector struggle to get resources to develop the nation. The only thing that we need from the government is to create a conducive atmosphere in which we are operating as the private sector,” he said. Namwandi lashed out at those he said are making it difficult for the university to achieve its goals.
He said the City of Windhoek has been adding conditions and making excuses for the past two years, instead of allowing the institution to expand its campus. “The university has a N$65 million project which people are sitting on in Windhoek. They refuse to allow us to build on our own land. They do not care. The government is spending money to defend the case. Let this message go to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development. If somebody messes up in future, the individual must pay from his own pocket, so that they can feel it. I want those who are sitting on the IUM construction project to pay the money from their pocket, so that they can feel it.
“We know that we will win the case. The conditions were just for the land to be rezoned from open space to institutional land. This is not caused by the council but by the people in management,” he said.
Meanwhile, Erongo regional governor Neville Andre said the university will empower the youth and develop the region.
“Both Namibian and international students will be studying at this campus. We are honoured as Erongo to have this campus here. IUM can capitalise on the new industries that are coming to Erongo. These developments are owned by investors and they will need Namibians. It will be beneficial for our own people to study in these fields. The institutions coming to our regions will prepare us for the resources that we have, to ensure that the value chain is maximised in our towns and in the country. “The new campus will play an educational role by empowering our youth. Through education, we empower our region and set it on a path to sustainable growth,” Namwandi said.
IUM currently has approximately
16 000 students.
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