Kauandenge Says He’s No Chameleon

ON 6 September 2005, a letter appeared in The Namibian newspaper under the heading ‘Advice for Kauandenge’, written by a certain P T Nambahu from Ondangwa.

It is natural that I respond. It is really not my style to respond to each and every letter or opinion about me, and there have been plenty of those.In this case I must respond for I can clearly see that the writer has his or her facts wrong.While I commend you for giving me unsolicited yet constructive advice, I want to state right from the onset that in whatever I do, I’m fully aware of the consequences and for every step that I take there are reasons.You stated in your letter that “If Mr Kauandenge is not urgently going to consider revising and reforming his political vision and adjust his political objectives accordingly, he may become the biggest embarrassment in party political failures.”For your information, since the day I voluntarily decided to join politics 15 years ago, I was and still am guided by a set of principles that I hold dear and a vision for a future Namibian state where we will all share equally in what the country has to offer.Wherever I have been, I have worked for the attainment of that noble goal and the records are there to show it.There is only one mistake that I have made and that is to put too much trust in people and for that I have paid dearly.It is unfortunate that Namibians by nature first pass judgement before asking the most important question, why? We as young people are told to toe the line, work hard and wait for our turn, but that chance never comes; we are only any good when we have to fill those rallies and clap hands, utter slogans and express our undying loyalty to those veteran politicians.Retired veteran politicians always make a comeback after having received and squandered handsome pensions and then who becomes the sacrificial lamb? The young person who has worked hard and earned the right and the privilege to be elevated to a higher position like me.My recent ‘marathon moves’, as you called it, was not of my own making but rather because of maltreatment.And there is no way that I will stay at a place where I’m only good when my skills and experience are needed and once given, I’m treated like a nobody.If moving away from such a place constitutes political prostitution or failure, let it be.I’m not yet a member of the Republican Party.I’m working there in the capacity of an advisor/researcher.For now, I want to concentrate on my recent appointment as Chairperson of the SADC Forum for Youth in Politics.But in any case, thank you for your advice, I really appreciate it and I will keep it for future reference.J Kauandenge Windhoek Note: This letter has been shortened – EdIt is really not my style to respond to each and every letter or opinion about me, and there have been plenty of those.In this case I must respond for I can clearly see that the writer has his or her facts wrong.While I commend you for giving me unsolicited yet constructive advice, I want to state right from the onset that in whatever I do, I’m fully aware of the consequences and for every step that I take there are reasons.You stated in your letter that “If Mr Kauandenge is not urgently going to consider revising and reforming his political vision and adjust his political objectives accordingly, he may become the biggest embarrassment in party political failures.”For your information, since the day I voluntarily decided to join politics 15 years ago, I was and still am guided by a set of principles that I hold dear and a vision for a future Namibian state where we will all share equally in what the country has to offer.Wherever I have been, I have worked for the attainment of that noble goal and the records are there to show it.There is only one mistake that I have made and that is to put too much trust in people and for that I have paid dearly.It is unfortunate that Namibians by nature first pass judgement before asking the most important question, why? We as young people are told to toe the line, work hard and wait for our turn, but that chance never comes; we are only any good when we have to fill those rallies and clap hands, utter slogans and express our undying loyalty to those veteran politicians.Retired veteran politicians always make a comeback after having received and squandered handsome pensions and then who becomes the sacrificial lamb? The young person who has worked hard and earned the right and the privilege to be elevated to a higher position like me.My recent ‘marathon moves’, as you called it, was not of my own making but rather because of maltreatment.And there is no way that I will stay at a place where I’m only good when my skills and experience are needed and once given, I’m treated like a nobody.If moving away from such a place constitutes political prostitution or failure, let it be.I’m not yet a member of the Republican Party.I’m working there in the capacity of an advisor/researcher.For now, I want to concentrate on my recent appointment as Chairperson of the SADC Forum for Youth in Politics.But in any case, thank you for your advice, I really appreciate it and I will keep it for future reference.J Kauandenge Windhoek Note: This letter has been shortened – Ed