Rural Development as a Key Step in Eradicating Poverty in Namibia Today

Abstract

In recognition of the research already done by social scientists locally and internationally in the area of poverty eradication, the author opted to employ the explanatory approach to this article. The article presents the argument that focusing on rural development will provide Namibia with a better chance of eradicating poverty. This follows the logic that poverty in Namibia is mostly a rural phenomenon according to national statistics, which is also the cause of the high rural to urban migration in the country. The role and responsibility of leadership in society, and the impact rural development might have on eradicating poverty in the country feature prominently in the article. Although the role of leadership in poverty eradication is not negotiable, it is about the quality of leadership required to facilitate the process to poverty eradication through, for example, fast-tracking rural development in the country. The article also provides perspectives on theories and views of prominent writers on poverty on the continent with the aim of exposing those aspects still keeping Africa and by extension, Namibia, poor despite its abundant natural resources. The impact of extractive and inclusive political and economic institutions for any country is cited in the article as the main reason for either progress or lack thereof in the poverty equation. Extractive political and economic institutions are impediments to economic growth while inclusive institutions encourage economic growth (Acemoglu & Robinson, 2013). The way the economy of any country is structured or designed, therefore, will always play a major role in relation to poverty levels in that particular country. The article recognises government efforts made thus far on rural development, poverty eradication and offers additional suggestions in the conclusion.