Nujoma bill ‘unfair and undignified’

THE Congress of Democrats yesterday did not mince its words in opposing a proposed law to bestow the title of founding father of the Namibian nation on former president Sam Nujoma, labelling it divisive, undemocratic and unfair.

Dominating yesterday’s sitting of the National Assembly, the CoD said it did not dispute the role Nujoma had played in Namibia’s history, but that it was wary of heralding one man at the cost of many others who had played their part in liberating the country. Shooting from the hip, CoD President Ben Ulenga maintained that the bill had “dubious meaning and intent”, was stripping Nujoma of dignity and had the capacity to divide the nation.”Namibians are a great nation of equals, not of underlings, and Sam Nujoma would be the first to say it,” he said.CoD Vice President Nora Schimming-Chase said it was unfortunate that Nujoma had to be discussed in public, only for the discussion to be construed as denigrating him.But she said she had to express her reservation at being asked to honour an individual when there were many others who had contributed to Namibia’s liberation.”Like those sons and daughters whose last remains are being dug up today, whose identity even after 16 years is still a mystery, whose dignity of a decent burial is still unfulfilled, we must be careful in heaping accolades on individuals whilst the majority are forgotten,” said Schimming- Chase.Ulenga contended that the bill was in “extremely poor taste” on the part of Government because it forced Nujoma, as a retired president, to become a point of discussion in parliamentary debate.”Sam Nujoma should be allowed to retire from active political life with dignity,” said Ulenga.”He is a leader and a freedom fighter.He was not the first nor shall he be the last to play those roles [of leader] in the annals of our history”.Ulenga further questioned the constitutionality of the bill.He said it was not the place of the National Assembly to confer any status, honour or rank nor to modify the legal relationship between any individual and the State.Such powers, he said, rested with the President.Schimming-Chase said Namibia had already honoured Nujoma in countless ways including electing him as the first president of the country, affording him a third term in office, a generous pension package, millions on making a film about him and naming streets, stadiums and other public places after him.Schimming-Chase said Nujoma – as the head of state – was appointed as the Chancellor of the University of Namibia, but still remained in that position today as the founding president.”How many more honours will be bestowed on one person, what honours will remain for the incumbent and all those who are to follow?”, she asked.Amidst the grumblings of Swapo members, Nujoma’s son, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Uutoni Nujoma, tried on more than one occasion to derail the debate.Interrupting both Ulenga and Schimming-Chase, he asked them whether the Young Democrats were planning to wage a “jihad” because they had no confidence in their senior leadership.Schimming-Chase called for him to be excluded from contributing to the discussion, saying he had a vested interest while Ulenga said he did not “mix family with politics”.Schimming-Chase said she would be less concerned about conferring the proposed title on Nujoma if he was no longer an active politician, but as this was not the case, nothing ruled out Nujoma once again becoming Swapo’s presidential candidate.”We are asked to confer the status of a father on a person who, by being an active politician and the president of Swapo will castigate his political opponents – his own children – as spies, sell-outs and agents of imperialism,” said Schimming-Chase.”I don’t know what others think, but to me, a father loves all his children and treats them all as fairly as possible”.Ulenga said it was very “risky” to enact legislation to benefit only one person and that it was to be expected that it would become a topical issue as to who was behind pushing for such a law.He contended that much of Cabinet and the National Assembly had been appointed by Nujoma in the previous administration or nominated by him to the party list.”By tampering with the work of history, Government risks being accused of being corrupt, or at least of having a conflict of interest.I can therefore say were are dealing with an issue of party political allegiance and not a national issue,” said Ulenga.Shooting from the hip, CoD President Ben Ulenga maintained that the bill had “dubious meaning and intent”, was stripping Nujoma of dignity and had the capacity to divide the nation.”Namibians are a great nation of equals, not of underlings, and Sam Nujoma would be the first to say it,” he said.CoD Vice President Nora Schimming-Chase said it was unfortunate that Nujoma had to be discussed in public, only for the discussion to be construed as denigrating him.But she said she had to express her reservation at being asked to honour an individual when there were many others who had contributed to Namibia’s liberation. “Like those sons and daughters whose last remains are being dug up today, whose identity even after 16 years is still a mystery, whose dignity of a decent burial is still unfulfilled, we must be careful in heaping accolades on individuals whilst the majority are forgotten,” said Schimming- Chase.Ulenga contended that the bill was in “extremely poor taste” on the part of Government because it forced Nujoma, as a retired president, to become a point of discussion in parliamentary debate.”Sam Nujoma should be allowed to retire from active political life with dignity,” said Ulenga.”He is a leader and a freedom fighter.He was not the first nor shall he be the last to play those roles [of leader] in the annals of our history”.Ulenga further questioned the constitutionality of the bill.He said it was not the place of the National Assembly to confer any status, honour or rank nor to modify the legal relationship between any individual and the State.Such powers, he said, rested with the President.Schimming-Chase said Namibia had already honoured Nujoma in countless ways including electing him as the first president of the country, affording him a third term in office, a generous pension package, millions on making a film about him and naming streets, stadiums and other public places after him.Schimming-Chase said Nujoma – as the head of state – was appointed as the Chancellor of the University of Namibia, but still remained in that position today as the founding president.”How many more honours will be bestowed on one person, what honours will remain for the incumbent and all those who are to follow?”, she asked.Amidst the grumblings of Swapo members, Nujoma’s son, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Uutoni Nujoma, tried on more than one occasion to derail the debate.Interrupting both Ulenga and Schimming-Chase, he asked them whether the Young Democrats were planning to wage a “jihad” because they had no confidence in their senior leadership.Schimming-Chase called for him to be excluded from contributing to the discussion, saying he had a vested interest while Ulenga said he did not “mix family with politics”.Schimming-Chase said she would be less concerned about conferring the proposed title on Nujoma if he was no longer an active politician, but as this was not the case, nothing ruled out Nujoma once again becoming Swapo’s presidential candidate.”We are asked to confer the status of a father on a person who, by being an active politician and the president of Swapo will castigate his political opponents – his own children – as spies, sell-outs and agents of imperialism,” said Schimming-Chase.”I don’t know what others think, but to me, a father loves all his children and treats them all as fairly as possible”.Ulenga said it was very “risky” to enact legislation to benefit only one person and that it was to be expected that it would become a topical issue as to who was behind pushing for such a law.He contended that much of Cabinet and the National Assembly had been appointed by Nujoma in the previous administration or nomin
ated by him to the party list.”By tampering with the work of history, Government risks being accused of being corrupt, or at least of having a conflict of interest.I can therefore say were are dealing with an issue of party political allegiance and not a national issue,” said Ulenga.