False CV claims becomes a risky concern in Namibia

By – Mr. Simeon Tonata Angombe
The severe level of unemployment rate and increased competition on the job front has come to push candidates to chance their hands at CV beautification in Namibia. Many people in Namibia especially those from the Liberation Struggle years and other recently liberated nations (SADC), have become a very good example of those who claim bogus academic credential in Masters and Post-Doctoral qualifications from far-away countries.
Before I continue with the academic part let us take a quick view on the few fellow Namibians who either fell victim to the political axing or reshuffle from different Management cadre and political office as far back as 1999 during the last reign of the Founding Father Dr. Sam Nujoma. Many people where Directors and heads of desks at different Ministries and other national entities, but they never had (proper) academic qualifications to serve in the positions they happened to be and unfortunately the performance level expected from them by state was not met because by default the Comrades were either naturally or academically incompetent or just fell out of state favour.
After this huge blow to the comrades many of them either sought and found employment elsewhere, some of them went for studies in neighbouring countries at trivial institutions, and some of them decided to escape into isolation and come out later with specious bejewelled Curriculum Vitae(s) to capitalise on the opportunities available under the new Pohamba Administration. Yes, most of them got back into the system and managed to rescue their lapsing accounts which they found hard to up-hold without their “entitled” jobs.
Let us face reality and listen to my true narration of this encounter with a certain Comrade at an interview two years back, I was made to understand that the Comrade holds a high qualification in a certain field (but then I kept wondering in which field precisely then), but never the less, the Comrade cannot even present a greeting in logical sequence, let alone present an argument other than bulldoze their position on an issue through the audience.
After the interview I heard the Comrade come out of the venue complaining that the “job he was being interviewed for does not fall under the qualification he hold because he has a PhD in Management and Administration, whereas the interview is focusing more into the History field”, the interesting part is yet to come though. I predict that it was out of leniency and pity, the panel decided to offer the Comrade Doctoral candidate the position, but then lucky me again, a friend of mine who has the same concern as I do happen to have made it through the interview and now is telling me that the PhD gentleman has re-phrased in his CV that he has “a Post Doctoral Degree in Political Science & Philosophy (History) of the 80s’ from a University in the Scandinavian countries”, but a copy of his PhD is nowhere to be found for proper reference to justify the CV claims.
My question is, what happened to the PhD in Management & Administration then? In Oshiwambo we have a say that goes like (“Ohoni yomukuluntu ongeyo”) – in direct translation into English it means that, (an elders’ shame surfaces in anger), so if your PhD colleague is not in a good mood after reading today’s New Era, that means he or she irked by the real truth in this article.
If you have a PhD in Political Science or Management & Administration, then why can’t you apply to lecture at the University in History, or at the Polytechnic to facilitate Business Administration studies since these institutions always seek applicants with competent qualifications in such or related fields each year? We have a very good example of qualified people such as the Swanu of Namibia’s President Usu. Maamberua, who resigned from Permanent Secretary position at Government after he was reshuffled from the Ministry of Finance to that of Prisons & Safety, he left and went to lecture at the University of Namibia, now why can’t, or (couldn’t), you do the same my stranded comrade Doctor(s)?
It is about time people of such fake arrogant attitudes accept reality and refrain from false CV claims at job-hunting because one way or another academic – wise young people like me will screen and expose the truth about you, mind you I am a practicing Researcher.
The advice I have to my fellow countrymen and women persistent with the bogus CV claims are that, let us refrain from such unethical practices and rather be honest with ourselves and nation so that we can assist and embrace one another for the better of our society. It is pointless to false fully claim having the necessary qualifications when you personally deem it fit to justify and satisfy your personal agenda.
It’s funny how I sometimes refer titles to some people who are humble in their dealings such as Mr. Bankie Foster Bankie, I used to think he has a PhD or may be a Historian Professor because of the logic, commitment and dedication to whatever project he might be involved in and through his academic writings and orientation, but yet he is one of the people who stopped me in my tracks while I was busy trying to justify him academically and told me that he is just “Mr. Bankie”, and then I thought, may be UNAM can think of giving him an honorary Philosophy Degree in African History especially concerning Pan-Africanism. Thank you!
*Mr. S.T.N.K. Angombe is a young active Politician, Humanities and Social Sciences expert, and a committed History scholar. You can read more articles and comment on his blog @ http://tonataangombe.blogspot.com or reach him through this electronic – mail address @ tonataa@gmail.com.