Actions speak louder than words

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba’s message last week, that services and goods delivered by Government are for all Namibians, has been welcomed by political analysts who said that more such remarks should be made by Swapo leaders.

During the inauguration of the Reverend Theophelus Hamutumbangela Railway Station at Oshikango on Thursday and at the official opening of the Rundu-Elundu tarred road on Friday, Pohamba made it clear that the Government should deliver services to all people irrespective of colour, religious or political affiliation.Bill Lindeke of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), said it was also refreshing that the President mentioned of the ‘Namibian government’ and not the ‘Swapo government’ as was always the case in the past.’Keep in mind that he is the President of the Namibian nation and the country, but we need to hear more of such remarks from government leaders. At the same time the President is aware of the need to unify the nation. Therefore the government started with its campaign on nationhood and national pride,’ Lindeke said.According to him it is also important for the Head of State to be sensitive towards the impression that Government is only concentrating on development in the North. Therefore, he said, was it the right time and place to make such remarks in the presence of opposition leaders and people invited from all over Namibia.Phanuel Kaapama, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Unam, said Pohamba has played the role of unifier since he took over as Head of State.According to him, this is part of Pohamba’s leadership style and it is expected from him as President of Namibia to make such remarks especially when it is not near elections.’This is also a method to bring the nation together but talking is not enough. It is issues such as unemployment and poverty that are really dividing the nation. There should be concrete steps taken to address these issues and this will unite the Namibians and make them a proud nation,’ Kaapama told The Namibian.