Curiosity Is a Public Duty

In the current climate, I can’t help but think about power, leadership, public office and what it means to be responsible when so many people are watching.

Recently, a journalist was escorted from State House in Windhoek for asking a question outside of what was considered the appropriate time and setting.

The question was about the president’s family and their alleged influence in the budding oil and gas sector – something that matters to everyone in Namibia.

Firstly, protocol exists for a reason. Leaders have responsibilities that go far beyond what we can see as citizens, and maintaining order is a very important facet of their roles.

On the other hand, and I’m saying this as a journalist and activist, defiance can be equally as important for safeguarding human rights, challenging authority (and the status quo), holding authority accountable and protecting democracy and press freedom.

The public deserves clarity, and the more powerful you are, the more people will want to know about what you’re doing, especially when those decisions affect wealth, resources and opportunity.

We love to idolise our struggle heroes, don’t we? The ones who stood up to authority, who broke protocol, who refused to be silenced even when the rules were against them. We celebrate them for challenging systems that seemed untouchable.

And rightly so. Our freedom was not won with compliance. That is not what our identity is. We are a nation shaped by struggle and resistance. It is drilled into us early on that our liberty was paid for in blood by people who were willing to lay their lives down for their ideals.

At the same time, I know there are moments when timing and context matter. The president is in charge and anyone with even a tiny bit of knowledge of how good organisations function and thrive, knows that broken ranks make a group weak.

It’s really a slippery slope from insubordination to chaos.

So where do we draw the line? Where does protocol end and press freedom begin?

I think the line exists with respecting the rules but also respecting curiosity, accountability and the right to ask questions during the brief moments we have access to people who can actually give answers.

I may be biased of course. I started reading Uri Gordon’s ‘Anarchy Alive!’ in high school, and it opened my eyes to the idea that challenging authority isn’t just rebellious, it is necessary.

It helped me understand that sometimes rules are made to protect power, not people and that breaking protocol with purpose and principle is part of shaping a fairer society.

As a writer I spend my life observing, reflecting and translating moments into words that can reach others. And I see this as more than an incident; I see it as a lesson in democracy, something to be studied. It’s not about taking sides really. It’s about analysing how fragile trust is and how careful we must be with it, and about how uncomfortable questions are not enemies of leadership, but necessary friction.

It is imperative that we constantly dissect these topics.

We live in a time of information overload. There are news and opinions everywhere, yet there is also often silence where there should be clarity.

Even if it sounds obvious, no one is perfect. Journalists will make mistakes. Leaders will make mistakes. Security officers will make mistakes.

I know this very well as someone who was once detained for protesting.

So what should we hope for? How about clarity and openness? It’s not too late for the president to address the query. It should be simple enough. I also hope for conversations that are difficult but safe.

I hope for journalists who are thoughtful and brave and for leaders who are patient and transparent. I hope for rules that exist to guide, not to block. I hope for boundaries that protect, not punish.

It can be exhausting to think about all this. To think about power, responsibility, trust and accountability.

And yet, it is also exciting. Because when these tensions exist, when these questions are asked, when these rules are tested, that is democracy in action.

Not only that, but situations like this kick up some very important conversations. It allows us all to analyse how things are going and earnestly express our opinions.

Only good can come from debate and discussion.

And so, I return to the beginning. Protocol is important. Press freedom is important. Public scrutiny is important. Leadership being accountable to the people is important. All of these things exist together in a delicate dance, and the health of our democracy depends on how well we balance them.

It is not about being perfect. It is about being aware.

In the end, I think it comes down to trust. Trust that leaders will not fear curiosity. Trust that journalists will not abuse access.

Trust that protocols are guides, not cages. Trust that the public will continue to ask questions, and that the answers will continue to be given.

That trust is fragile, yes. That trust is precious, absolutely. And that trust is what our democracy is made of.

– Anne Hambuda is a social commentator, novelist and poet. Follow her online or email her at annehambuda@gmail.com for more.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.