A light during Namibia’s dark days

Former Cabinet minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana yesterday said the late Martti Ahtisaari managed to get a “complicated” situation right and delivered Namibia’s independence on behalf of the United Nations (UN), amid numerous opposing forces.

Iivula-Ithana’s comments come as Namibia joins the rest of the world in mourning the late Ahtisaari, who died yesterday at the age of 86.

According to reports, the former president of Finland and former leader of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (Untag) had advanced Alzheimer’s disease.The late diplomat has become synonymous with Resolution 435, which ushered in Namibia’s independence. Even after the attainment of freedom, Ahtisaari remained committed to Namibia by providing assistance to causes like Martti Ahtisaari Primary School. He was also awarded honorary citizenship by the Namibian government.

Speaking on Desert Radio yesterday soon after the announcement of his death, former ambassador Pius Dunaiski lauded the role Ahtisaari played in the peace process that birthed Namibia’s independence.

Building on president Hage Geingob’s assertion that Namibia is a child of international solidarity, Dunaiski described Ahtisaari as the embodiment of international solidarity.

“He was the head of Untag, and played a major role to get us independent from apartheid South Africa,” Dunaiski said.

Iivula-Ithana, speaking on the same platform, said Ahtisaari’s death was sad news not only for Finland, but also for Namibia, and Swapo.

“Ahtisaari was associated with Namibia for a long time, through Swapo. And as an envoy of Finland to the United Nations, he played a lot of roles in supporting our liberation struggle at the UN, and it did not come as a surprise that he had to head Untag which supervised our first elections in 1989,” Iivula-Ithana said.

UNTAG ROLE

Dunaiski said despite some shortcomings and the criticism that ensued following the death of about 375 Plan fighters in April 1989, only a few men can equal Ahtisaari in terms of his commitment to the independence of Namibia.

He described Ahtisaari as an outstanding diplomat who was well versed with Swapo leaders, as well as leaders of other Namibian political parties.

“We found in him a man that was open-minded and who listened to all people. I think we can conclude that the Untag period and the whole process for the independence of Namibia was the most successful UN peace operation in the whole world,” Dunaiski said.

“It was shaky. We were all afraid. Especially because it started with a war that was seen as very cruel, with people being shot at close range. But I think the whole of Namibia should mourn with the family and people of Finland,” he said, commending the government for granting Ahtisaari honorary citizenship.

Ahtisaari was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2008, in honour of his efforts towards the resolution of conflicts around the world.

The Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation said it was “deeply saddened by the loss of its founder and (former) chair of the board”.

“Namibia’s transition from a colony could not have been managed by a person who was not a seasoned diplomat. He had to walk a tightrope because his relationship with Swapo was known by all, and in this role he had to be accepted by everybody,” said Iivula-Ithana.

THE WALVIS BAY SAGA

The dawn of Namibia’s independence, however, saw some territories being left in the hands of the former oppressor.

Among them was the Walvis Bay harbour, raising the question on whether this was a diplomatic failure of Untag’s mission.

Iivula-Ithana said this could be tantamount to a diplomatic failure but “it was not just a matter of Ahtisaari delivering Walvis Bay”.
She said there were other forces at play which forced Swapo to look at the possibility of postponing independence because of Walvis Bay.

“Others saw it best to get Namibia without Walvis Bay so that we can negotiate ourselves as Swapo and as the government for the incorporation of Walvis Bay back into the Republic of Namibia, which actually happened in a very short period of time,” she said.

Dunaiski described those tasked with handling the political complexity surrounding the delivery of Walvis Bay to an independent Namibia as diplomatic and wise because they knew that South Africa was on its way to democratisation.

Martti Ahtisaari Primary School principal Romanus Garoëb said Athisaari had done so much, not only for the school, but for Namibia as a whole.

“We will forever uphold his legacy and the impact he has made.”

Garoëb recounted Ahtisaari’s last visit at the school, saying the late statesman was an advocate for the schools’ wellness and brought business people to invest in the school.

PRESIDENCY IN MOURNING

President Geingob described the late Ahtisaari as a friend of the Namibian liberation struggle and a leading peacemaker who, through the UN, played a pivotal role in midwifing the birth of a new Namibia.

Geingob said major parts in the history of Namibia would be incomplete without the name of Ahtisaari.

“As a Finn, former president Ahtisaari understood fully our quest for freedom and justice. In the roles of diplomat, negotiator, peacekeeper, former president Ahtisaari served the Namibian people who were seeking self-determination and justice with flying colours,” Geingob said.

“Therefore, today, we are not only mourning the loss of Ahtisaari, a friend and one of us, but we are also reaffirming the rich legacy of peace and the outstanding international public service of a Nobel peace laureate with an indelible association with Namibia.”