In Action As In Words

I DON’T want to be remembered as a rich man. I want people to remember me as a benevolent person.’

This statement would be nothing short of a paradox, a classic oxymoron, had it been uttered by someone other than Harold Pupkewitz, the business mogul who, until his last breath, worked in pursuit of profit.As anyone who has come in contact with Pupkewitz will attest, he did not speak just for the sake of having a voice. After his death at nearly 97 years last Friday the proof of his words is all over Namibia for anyone to inspect or dispute.Many may have disagreed with him, even fundamentally over different issues, but few would deny he walked the talk and served as an exemplary figure.One of the wealthiest Namibians, perhaps even the richest (discounting tycoons with ill-gotten and concealed riches), Pupkewitz lived a life many young Namibians, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, should emulate.Close friends and family talk of a person who did not seem over-conscious of, or flaunt, his wealth, in a world where money makes people so arrogantly mad they want to trample over anyone and anything in their paths.The simplicity of the pinewood casket might be ascribed to his religion, but how do you explain his simple shoes and run-of-mill luxury vehicles when some of his fellow Jews flaunted their riches?’I want to be remembered by the ethical values which I have tried to inculcate in all people I have worked with, integrity which includes honesty and truth, the value of professionalism, high standard of competence and output, responsibility and accountability that whatever you do you have to face the consequences.’Many people, especially those from poor backgrounds and those oppressed during apartheid because they were black, would be well-advised to follow Pupkewitz’s lead. As a Jew, he also understands oppression and discrimination. That is probably what made his love for Namibia (although he was born in Europe) so strong, even after independence when many of his fellow white Namibians only found fault and muttered under their breath that the country was crumbling and without taking part in public activities to correct what they saw as wrong.He declared that he never wanted to live in any other country and proved it by investing and reinvesting the substantial part, if not all of his wealth, in Namibia.Contrast that with several Namibians riding on the back of independence, black economic empowerment, affirmative action, and who spend a lot of the money they made in Namibia on the most expensive overseas products with little ploughed back for the benefit for the country.Pupkwitz’s death is a reminder of what Namibians ought to do in order to build the country. He employed more than 1 200 people at the time of his death. He eschewed conspicuous consumption in a country where the majority live from hand to mouth.Let us honour his spirit and that of others like him (business icon Aupa Frans Indongo also comes to mind) to work hard and forget short-cuts in order to make Namibia a prosperous nation.