Mbuende appointed ambassador to the UN

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba has appointed Dr Kaire Mbuende as NamibiaÂ’s Ambassador to the United Nations in New York.

Political observers see the move as aimed at sending a strong signal on reconciliation within the ruling party. The Head of State, who announced a number of diplomatic appointments at a ceremony at State House yesterday, is also the Vice President of Swapo. Mbuende’s dismissal as Cabinet Minister two years ago by former President Sam Nujoma sparked discontent among sections of the ruling party. Mbuende was sacked as Deputy Foreign Minister in May 2004, together with former Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya. At the time, he was accused by Nujoma of allegedly interfering with the selection of Swapo candidates for Regional Council elections. Mbuende’s appointment as UN ambassador once again takes a Herero-speaker to the UN headquarters, where a bronze bust of the late Herero leader Chief Hosea Kutako graces the foyer. Kutako was the first black Namibian to directly petition the UN for Namibia’s independence back in 1946 by means of letters and the Chief is considered the father of modern Namibian nationalism across political party lines. Chief Kutako then appointed Mburumba Kerina as a permanent petitioner for the Herero Chiefs Council at the UN from 1956. Kerina left Namibia in 1953 to study in the US. “The UN played an important and historic role in the birth of Namibia as sovereign nation,” President Pohamba said at the ceremony. “As a result, we enjoy a special relationship with the world body; this is a status we take seriously, with full commitment to the ideals and objectives enshrined in the UN Charter,” Pohamba emphasised. Mbuende replaces Martin Andjaba. In his acceptance speech, Mbuende said that reform of the UN was long overdue. He feels it needs to serve the needs of Africa better. He noted that Namibia and neighbouring Botswana were classified as middle-income countries internationally despite many challenges and a skewed equity base. “Both are facing prospects of the decline of official development assistance. It is of utmost importance that the two countries work together, bilaterally as well as regionally in the context of SACU and SADC.” Mbuende was born in 1953 and he studied and lectured in Tanzania and Sweden after being Swapo information officer in Zambia from 1974 to 1975. He obtained his doctorate in Economic Sociology in Sweden in 1986. He was a Member of the Constituent Assembly in 1989 and was Deputy Minister of Agriculture from 1990 until 1993. From 1994 to 1999 he was Executive Secretary at the Secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Gaborone, Botswana. In 2000 he again became a Member of the National Assembly and in 2002 he was appointed as Deputy Foreign Minister.DIPLOMATSOther ambassadors appointed yesterday include Selma Ashipala-Musavyi from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She spent a year at the UN, during 2000 and 2001, when former Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab chaired the Millennium Session of the UN General Assembly. Ashipala-Musavyi is being posted to Vienna, Austria, and will also represent Namibia at the UN Office in Geneva, Switzerland. It is her first posting as an ambassador. Tsukhoe //Gowases was appointed as High Commissioner to Botswana and replaces Theresia Samaria. //Gowases was formerly the Regional Councillor for Katutura Central. It is her first appointment as a diplomat. Ambassador Daniel Smith, who was posted to Austria for three and a half years, will now go to Nigeria, his second posting in this position. He replaces Philemon Kambala. It is not known whether Kambala will return to Namibia or will be sent on another diplomatic mission. It is expected that Wilfried Emvula, Ambassador in France for many years, may also receive a new posting. A source told this newspaper that apparently Panduleni Shingenge, presently in Stockholm, Sweden, might be sent to Paris soon.Mbuende’s appointment as UN ambassador once again takes a Herero-speaker to the UN headquarters, where a bronze bust of the late Herero leader Chief Hosea Kutako graces the foyer. Kutako was the first black Namibian to directly petition the UN for Namibia’s independence back in 1946 by means of letters and the Chief is considered the father of modern Namibian nationalism across political party lines. Chief Kutako then appointed Mburumba Kerina as a permanent petitioner for the Herero Chiefs Council at the UN from 1956. Kerina left Namibia in 1953 to study in the US. “The UN played an important and historic role in the birth of Namibia as sovereign nation,” President Pohamba said at the ceremony. “As a result, we enjoy a special relationship with the world body; this is a status we take seriously, with full commitment to the ideals and objectives enshrined in the UN Charter,” Pohamba emphasised. Mbuende replaces Martin Andjaba. In his acceptance speech, Mbuende said that reform of the UN was long overdue. He feels it needs to serve the needs of Africa better. He noted that Namibia and neighbouring Botswana were classified as middle-income countries internationally despite many challenges and a skewed equity base. “Both are facing prospects of the decline of official development assistance. It is of utmost importance that the two countries work together, bilaterally as well as regionally in the context of SACU and SADC.” Mbuende was born in 1953 and he studied and lectured in Tanzania and Sweden after being Swapo information officer in Zambia from 1974 to 1975. He obtained his doctorate in Economic Sociology in Sweden in 1986. He was a Member of the Constituent Assembly in 1989 and was Deputy Minister of Agriculture from 1990 until 1993. From 1994 to 1999 he was Executive Secretary at the Secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Gaborone, Botswana. In 2000 he again became a Member of the National Assembly and in 2002 he was appointed as Deputy Foreign Minister.DIPLOMATSOther ambassadors appointed yesterday include Selma Ashipala-Musavyi from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She spent a year at the UN, during 2000 and 2001, when former Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab chaired the Millennium Session of the UN General Assembly. Ashipala-Musavyi is being posted to Vienna, Austria, and will also represent Namibia at the UN Office in Geneva, Switzerland. It is her first posting as an ambassador. Tsukhoe //Gowases was appointed as High Commissioner to Botswana and replaces Theresia Samaria. //Gowases was formerly the Regional Councillor for Katutura Central. It is her first appointment as a diplomat. Ambassador Daniel Smith, who was posted to Austria for three and a half years, will now go to Nigeria, his second posting in this position. He replaces Philemon Kambala. It is not known whether Kambala will return to Namibia or will be sent on another diplomatic mission. It is expected that Wilfried Emvula, Ambassador in France for many years, may also receive a new posting. A source told this newspaper that apparently Panduleni Shingenge, presently in Stockholm, Sweden, might be sent to Paris soon.