Township in Windhoek
On the drive into Windhoek, there were termite mounds everywhere. These are not your average termite mounds. Some of the mounds we saw were nine feet tall! When Mallory did her presentation on the termites, she explained to us that 90% of termites are not considered pests. I found that to be interesting because termites have such a bad reputation as pests.
Also during the drive to Windhoek, Burger slammed on the brakes, ran out of the bus, and grabbed a chameleon from the other side of the road. How he saw it, I will never know. This chameleon was bright green, whereas the one we saw earlier was an ugly brownish-grey color. The ugly one was molting, but this one was more representative of an actual chameleon.
Since we didn't get to have a township tour in Capetown, Burger gave us one on the way into Windhoek. On the outskirts of town are many small, ramshackle houses. They are made from anything that people can get their hands on--tin, wood, stone, etc. These are the townships. Legally, these people are not allowed to be here. They are here because, during apartheid, they were pushed from the center of Windhoek to the outskirts of town. Since they couldn't walk to work anymore, they had no income. Thus, even after apartheid, these people are still here. New people have arrived as well, hoping to make a life for themselves in the country's capital. However, the government has created a program to deal with the situation. Once a person moves into the area, they must apply for a temporary address from the government. This temporary address is good for seven years. During this time, the family must buy the land that they're living on or pay taxes on it. This encourages land ownership and stability. After buying their land, the have another seven years to build a stone home or they will be taxed. Again, this promotes stability and it also provides them with better sanitation. After they have built their stone house, the government will provide water and electricity, and thus, improved living conditions.
I thought that the government's plan is very commendable. It is helping the people while encouraging them to work for it. The government provides them with 14 tax-free years to buy their property and build a stone home. In exchange, they government provides water and electricity. The government understands that poverty cannot be overcome overnight. Like with education, they have implemented a plan with their eyes on the future. They are providing their citizens with the tools and the opportunities to help themselves.
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