Political Perspective

JUST when people thought Namibians were becoming more mature and finally concerning themselves with issues of good governance and corruption, then you note that good common sense hasn’t really taken root at all.

There is no tangible search for solutions and little real, positive innovation or creativity; merely the recycling of outdated ideas, baseless gossip and nutty proposals. I begin to wonder whether public interest in what really constituted the basis of the SSC inquiry, namely missing public monies, was real or perceived, and whether people even understand what’s at stake.WHEN will we ever learn about our priorities? And that’s from the top down.Sheer lunacy at times replaces apathy.We know this because the media are called upon to cover much of it.A few examples: * The Minister of State in the Office of the President, Albert Kawana, proposes to Cabinet a statue of former President Nujoma.Ye gods! As if there aren’t already expensive tributes aplenty in the form of tens of street names; a stadium; a movie; the list goes on, to honour the founding father.Is this what we’re paying Kawana’s salary for? * A Cabinet decision that all Government offices should hang portraits of both the incumbent and founding Presidents.Why, for heaven’s sake? Small wonder there’s confusion as to who is actually President.* Let’s all build a railway.Nice for everyone and his mother to volunteer because former President Sam Nujoma requested it.And especially when they get marketing mileage out of it.But what are we saving at the end of the day? Didn’t someone get a lucrative contract to build the damn thing in the first place? Could someone please shed clarity on this matter? * Give Lazarus Kandara a hero’s burial.Yes, seriously, people are calling for this for a man who made an awful lot of money disappear! And at Heroes’ Acre to boot.Can you imagine? He’s actually being perceived as a martyr in some quarters! * Kill all whites.Now there’s a thought! The Ovaherero Genocide Committee organised a march where an overzealous (but absolutely identifiable) person sported a poster with these words.The Committee subsequently distanced itself from the statement, but what an irony! This was hardly a million-man march that they couldn’t have checked before or during.We await eagerly the exposure of the individual in question and the charges that will follow.Imagine the outcry if the wording had been reversed? * Will Kapia get a pension? Imagine, perhaps the shortest-serving Minister in Namibia may get just that.He spent literally days in office before he went on leave and then resigned.And does Swapo still want him on its list? In Parliament? Tough call.Because if he goes out, guess who goes in? Yep, former Foreign Minister Hidipo Hamutenya, if he chooses to take it.Rough justice for Kapia indeed! * The Stock Theft Amendment Act.Surely the most bizarre piece of legislation, providing for minimum jail terms as high as 30 years for stealing livestock.What next? The death sentence for a sandwich? How about just changing the name of the Act to read ‘Corruption’ instead of Stock Theft? Such sentences may be more appropriate in this regard.* A flock of not-so-civil servants.Such was the magnitude of the number of Government employees going AWOL to attend the SSC-Avid hearing that the Prime Minister had to place an advert calling upon them to go to work or apply for leave.* Make sure you cut your nose hairs.Good for Air Namibia in ensuring neatness and uniformity among airline staff, but there’s general hilarity at some of the requirements of the new dress code, which includes instructing that cabin attendants clip their nose hairs, wear makeup (the women, that is!) and that no-one sporting gold in their teeth will be considered for this job! Perhaps Air Nam should give consideration to those who can sing both the Namibian and OAU anthems, and name the former and incumbent Presidents in the right order, then they can be forgiven for being short, fat and claustrophobic as well.But perhaps we must be forgiven.Silly season approaches, and at the end of the day, it’s the Namibian way!I begin to wonder whether public interest in what really constituted the basis of the SSC inquiry, namely missing public monies, was real or perceived, and whether people even understand what’s at stake.WHEN will we ever learn about our priorities? And that’s from the top down.Sheer lunacy at times replaces apathy.We know this because the media are called upon to cover much of it.A few examples: * The Minister of State in the Office of the President, Albert Kawana, proposes to Cabinet a statue of former President Nujoma.Ye gods! As if there aren’t already expensive tributes aplenty in the form of tens of street names; a stadium; a movie; the list goes on, to honour the founding father.Is this what we’re paying Kawana’s salary for? * A Cabinet decision that all Government offices should hang portraits of both the incumbent and founding Presidents.Why, for heaven’s sake? Small wonder there’s confusion as to who is actually President.* Let’s all build a railway.Nice for everyone and his mother to volunteer because former President Sam Nujoma requested it.And especially when they get marketing mileage out of it.But what are we saving at the end of the day? Didn’t someone get a lucrative contract to build the damn thing in the first place? Could someone please shed clarity on this matter? * Give Lazarus Kandara a hero’s burial.Yes, seriously, people are calling for this for a man who made an awful lot of money disappear! And at Heroes’ Acre to boot.Can you imagine? He’s actually being perceived as a martyr in some quarters! * Kill all whites.Now there’s a thought! The Ovaherero Genocide Committee organised a march where an overzealous (but absolutely identifiable) person sported a poster with these words.The Committee subsequently distanced itself from the statement, but what an irony! This was hardly a million-man march that they couldn’t have checked before or during.We await eagerly the exposure of the individual in question and the charges that will follow.Imagine the outcry if the wording had been reversed? * Will Kapia get a pension? Imagine, perhaps the shortest-serving Minister in Namibia may get just that.He spent literally days in office before he went on leave and then resigned.And does Swapo still want him on its list? In Parliament? Tough call.Because if he goes out, guess who goes in? Yep, former Foreign Minister Hidipo Hamutenya, if he chooses to take it.Rough justice for Kapia indeed! * The Stock Theft Amendment Act.Surely the most bizarre piece of legislation, providing for minimum jail terms as high as 30 years for stealing livestock.What next? The death sentence for a sandwich? How about just changing the name of the Act to read ‘Corruption’ instead of Stock Theft? Such sentences may be more appropriate in this regard.* A flock of not-so-civil servants.Such was the magnitude of the number of Government employees going AWOL to attend the SSC-Avid hearing that the Prime Minister had to place an advert calling upon them to go to work or apply for leave.* Make sure you cut your nose hairs.Good for Air Namibia in ensuring neatness and uniformity among airline staff, but there’s general hilarity at some of the requirements of the new dress code, which includes instructing that cabin attendants clip their nose hairs, wear makeup (the women, that is!) and that no-one sporting gold in their teeth will be considered for this job! Perhaps Air Nam should give consideration to those who can sing both the Namibian and OAU anthems, and name the former and incumbent Presidents in the right order, then they can be forgiven for being short, fat and claustrophobic as well.But perhaps we must be forgiven.Silly season approaches, and at the end of the day, it’s the Namibian way!