Founding father debate sparks tension in NA

TENSIONS ran high in the National Assembly yesterday, as old wounds were re-opened and the written history of the liberation struggle was challenged during the final round of discussions on a bill to confer upon former President Sam Nujoma the title of Founding Father of the Namibian Nation.

The bill is set to be passed early next week. Putting an end to the debate, Prime Minister Nahas Angula said the nation needed exemplary figures and that it was only right to give recognition to Nujoma as a symbol of nationhood, reconciliation and unity.But this was not before Congress of Democrats Secretary General Kalla Gertze, as an ex-detainee in the Swapo dungeons at Lubango, challenged history.Reading extracts from documents from the United Nations and newspaper clippings from the 1950s, he set out to illustrate that certain parts of history were either different or simply omitted from Nujoma’s biography ‘Where Others Wavered’.An uneasy silence permeated the chamber as Gertze recalled his days as a detainee and said it was painful that history had been distorted.”I and my fellow ex-detainees may not be regarded as part of Dr Sam Nujoma’s life and struggle.We do not feature in that book at all.I find it extremely unfair and indeed very demeaning to be expected to support or even discuss this bill.We would love to have seen a father of the nation who could lend an ear to the cries of many people in this country whose lives have been shattered under the leadership of Dr Nujoma,” said Gertze.The UDF’s Michael Goreseb also got Swapo’s back up when he once again reminded the House of what he termed an unconstitutional move to give Nujoma a third term in office as president.Swapo backbencher Hage Geingob took offence at the remarks, saying that the Constitution made provision for it to be amended.The Republican Party’s Henk Mudge further irked the House by insinuating that Nujoma could not be considered the father of the Damara-Nama people.Lands Minister Jerry Ekandjo sprang to his feet, telling Mudge that he would never understand the suffering of black people.Waving pictures of the mass graves unearthed at Eenhana, Ekandjo said Mudge could never speak on behalf of the majority of Namibians.Presidential Affairs Minister Albert Kawana said he was “disappointed” by Mudge’s remarks.He accused him of insinuating that black people could never form a nation and that only white people could achieve this.Angula told Mudge that only 20 per cent of the Namibian population did not support the ruling party.Qualifying his remarks, Mudge said he understood that each black ethnic group had its own pride and that Nujoma could not be considered the father of all of them.Putting an end to the debate, Angula charged that the views expressed by the opposition during discussion on the bill were based on wrong perceptions, were politically motivated or a reflection of personal attitude.”Yes, it’s true the struggle was long and bitter.Some people got caught in the crossfire.That doesn’t really detract us from doing the right thing now,” said Angula.”If you hate a person, you hate a person.There’s nothing I can do except maybe say a prayer.”Putting an end to the debate, Prime Minister Nahas Angula said the nation needed exemplary figures and that it was only right to give recognition to Nujoma as a symbol of nationhood, reconciliation and unity.But this was not before Congress of Democrats Secretary General Kalla Gertze, as an ex-detainee in the Swapo dungeons at Lubango, challenged history.Reading extracts from documents from the United Nations and newspaper clippings from the 1950s, he set out to illustrate that certain parts of history were either different or simply omitted from Nujoma’s biography ‘Where Others Wavered’.An uneasy silence permeated the chamber as Gertze recalled his days as a detainee and said it was painful that history had been distorted.”I and my fellow ex-detainees may not be regarded as part of Dr Sam Nujoma’s life and struggle.We do not feature in that book at all.I find it extremely unfair and indeed very demeaning to be expected to support or even discuss this bill.We would love to have seen a father of the nation who could lend an ear to the cries of many people in this country whose lives have been shattered under the leadership of Dr Nujoma,” said Gertze.The UDF’s Michael Goreseb also got Swapo’s back up when he once again reminded the House of what he termed an unconstitutional move to give Nujoma a third term in office as president.Swapo backbencher Hage Geingob took offence at the remarks, saying that the Constitution made provision for it to be amended.The Republican Party’s Henk Mudge further irked the House by insinuating that Nujoma could not be considered the father of the Damara-Nama people.Lands Minister Jerry Ekandjo sprang to his feet, telling Mudge that he would never understand the suffering of black people.Waving pictures of the mass graves unearthed at Eenhana, Ekandjo said Mudge could never speak on behalf of the majority of Namibians.Presidential Affairs Minister Albert Kawana said he was “disappointed” by Mudge’s remarks.He accused him of insinuating that black people could never form a nation and that only white people could achieve this.Angula told Mudge that only 20 per cent of the Namibian population did not support the ruling party.Qualifying his remarks, Mudge said he understood that each black ethnic group had its own pride and that Nujoma could not be considered the father of all of them.Putting an end to the debate, Angula charged that the views expressed by the opposition during discussion on the bill were based on wrong perceptions, were politically motivated or a reflection of personal attitude.”Yes, it’s true the struggle was long and bitter.Some people got caught in the crossfire.That doesn’t really detract us from doing the right thing now,” said Angula.”If you hate a person, you hate a person.There’s nothing I can do except maybe say a prayer.”