Commentary by Dr John Nakuta at the launch of Dr Ndjodi Ndeunyema’s Book

Описание: During the launch of Dr Ndjodi Ndeunyema’s book, Re-invigorating Ubuntu to realise a court-enforceable human right to water under the Namibia Constitution, held at the University of Namibia (UNAM) on 03 March 2022, Dr John Nakuta provided critical commentary on the intersections of human rights, constitutionalism, and the African value of Ubuntu.
His commentary centered on several key themes:
• Critique of Political Priorities: Dr Nakuta notably criticised Namibian lawmakers for prioritising legislation that affects private matters, such as same-sex marriage bills, while failing to expedite rights that directly impact the daily lives and survival of the people, such as the right to water.
• Re-invigorative Constitutionalism: He supported the book's core argument that the right to water is implied from the Right to Life (Article 6 of the Namibian Constitution) and should be interpreted through the lens of Ubuntu's principles: community, interdependence, dignity, and solidarity.
• Shift toward Justification: Dr Nakuta emphasised that Namibia has moved from an "era of authority" to an "era of justification," where every government decision—especially those regarding socio-economic rights—must be legally and morally justified before implementation.
• Call for Radical Solidarity: He urged young people and student leaders to cultivate a sense of solidarity to disrupt the status quo and challenge authorities when they are unfair or unreasonable.
• Justiciability of Socio-Economic Rights: His remarks aligned with the book's thesis that Namibian courts are institutionally competent and legitimate in enforcing the right to water, despite the traditional view that socio-economic principles are mere "policies".