Diplomats’ selection questioned

THE Congress of Democrats yesterday questioned the selection of Namibia’s diplomats saying it did not reflect the ethnic diversity of the country.

Speaking on the White Paper on Namibia’s foreign policy, CoD Whip Nora Schimming-Chase said she was not in agreement that the Foreign Affairs Ministry played no role in the choice of heads of foreign missions and that this was done at the sole discretion of the President. A former Ambassador to Germany, Schimming-Chase said it was common international practice that Foreign Affairs would advise on career diplomats.If this practice was followed in Namibia, she maintained, diplomatic representation abroad would “reflect the ethnic diversity of the country resulting in choosing the best and receiving international respect and acceptance”.Schimming-Chase said Government had opted for “quantity” rather than “quality” ambassadors, saying that at the time of her posting, there were only thirteen Namibian diplomats abroad who achieved a lot.She further claimed that the interaction between Ministries and the contacts made by diplomats were lacking.”The most destructive phenomenon is when diplomats are instructed to rigorously encourage investment, agreements are signed, and a few years later, the game plan changes and investments are lost,” said Schimming-Chase.The CoD MP also took issue with Namibia’s lack of representation in international agencies, saying that the country would only benefit from their projects and programmes if Namibians worked there.Minister of Mines and Energy Nickey Iyambo claimed that Namibians had been selected but that salaries offered were too poor.The debate was postponed until next week.A former Ambassador to Germany, Schimming-Chase said it was common international practice that Foreign Affairs would advise on career diplomats.If this practice was followed in Namibia, she maintained, diplomatic representation abroad would “reflect the ethnic diversity of the country resulting in choosing the best and receiving international respect and acceptance”.Schimming-Chase said Government had opted for “quantity” rather than “quality” ambassadors, saying that at the time of her posting, there were only thirteen Namibian diplomats abroad who achieved a lot.She further claimed that the interaction between Ministries and the contacts made by diplomats were lacking.”The most destructive phenomenon is when diplomats are instructed to rigorously encourage investment, agreements are signed, and a few years later, the game plan changes and investments are lost,” said Schimming-Chase.The CoD MP also took issue with Namibia’s lack of representation in international agencies, saying that the country would only benefit from their projects and programmes if Namibians worked there.Minister of Mines and Energy Nickey Iyambo claimed that Namibians had been selected but that salaries offered were too poor.The debate was postponed until next week.