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Friday, August 19, 2005 - Web posted at 8:58:55 GMT Standing room only in Avid soapie * M'KARIKO AMAGULUPUSHING, jamming, overcrowding, applause, laughter and jeering have characterised the High Court inquiry into the Social Security Commission's missing N$30 million investment. |
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The Avid-SSC inquiry has become one of the most publicised and well-attended events since Independence. It creates the impression that Namibians are starved for entertainment and action and the inquiry is giving them just that. The small courtroom has hardly been able to contain the large number of people attending. Each day it is overflowing with people from all walks of life. Many are not connected to the inquiry; they just come to enjoy the show. The majority seem to be civil servants. There is never an open seat in the upper and lower galleries, and the rest of the public try to cram themselves into any other space available - against the walls, on the floors and on the armrests of seats. People are prepared to stand for hours while the daily drama unfolds. The area set aside for journalists is also not large enough to cater for the large media contingent, and some of them are forced to sit on the floor or find seats outside the courtroom. People are so captivated by the proceedings that courtroom etiquette - such as switching off cellphones and keeping quiet - has gone for a loop. On one occasion, Acting Judge Raymond Heathcote halted proceedings, called the owner of a ringing cellphone to approach the bench and gave her a warning. Every time a witness is unable to answer a question or entangles himself further, snorts, groans or bursts of laughter erupt from the galleries. Asked why members of the public are so interested in the drama, a young man, who declined to be named, said he attended the sessions because of the involvement of a lot of high-profile and influential people. Another regular attendee at the hearings, who stated that he was a public servant, but declined to be identified, stated: "It is our money, we want to know what happened to our money." At one stage the Judge had to remind people that the inquiry was a serious matter and not a theatre play. "This is not a theatre, there is no need for applause," Acting Judge Heathcote cautioned. I guess when one mixes a brew of politics (Kapia and Blaauw), money, religion (the Voice of God Tabernacle) and lies ("wasn't me"), one is bound to create a real-life soap opera. - Nampa |
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