Political Perspective

I SUPPOSE the nation should count itself fortunate that Parliamentarians aren’t quizzed on the contents of the State of the Nation address by President Hifikepunye Pohamba recently, as they’d fail dismally, mostly because they were asleep during the delivery! Some may ask ‘what’s new?’ as MPs doze quite a lot of the time, but it really does speak volumes about the state of our nation’s Parliament. Whatever other problems they may have, apparently insomnia isn’t one of them!

AND some of the excuses proffered by MPs to the reporters from Informanté newspaper, which commendably featured the story on what they termed ‘the snoozing honourables’, were absolutely hysterical. From high blood-sugar levels to all-night driving to boredom, being over 50 and eye allergies, the MPs had all their flimsy explanations at the ready.That this snooze-fest comes in the wake of a hefty 24 per cent salary hike for Members of Parliament makes it even more unacceptable. As were their excuses.I acknowledge that President Pohamba is not the most riveting speaker, but that still doesn’t give Parliamentarians licence to slumber away while he gives what is supposed to be THE definitive speech of the year.And again, the Namibian public could not be blamed for questioning the commitment of our MPs to the task at hand. This is not a time for dozing off. This is a time which calls for a redoubled commitment to solving the problems of the day. What example does this snooze-fest set to the working public? If you are paid to do a job – regardless of whether your infant kept you awake last night or whether your wife made your sleep in the spare room or whether your aren’t as young as you used to be – you have to do it, and especially so when you represent the nation!Witness some of the comments of MPs when approached on why their nocturnal habits encroach on their daylight hours: The Minister of Presidential Affairs, Albert Kawana, claims to have worked ‘the whole Easter weekend’ on the President’s speech and had only gone to sleep at 00h30 the night before the State of the Nation address … ‘so I am only human’, he said. I seriously doubt his explanation. It’s not as though he writes the speech! Most of it is based on submissions from the various Ministries and then put together by Ben Nangombe et al. as far as I am aware.Then Swapo Chief Whip Hans Booys claimed that ‘it’s only natural to doze off if you’re over 50’ and have to drive in from Okahandja! I mean, come off it. He insults many who’ve hit middle age and who retain their energy and youthfulness and make more of a commitment than people much younger. If they’re being lazy sods in Parliament, then have the grace to say so. Tommy Nambahu was at least honest by admitting he was bored to death, so took a nap instead!I’ve said before, and I do so again, that our leaders have to earn our respect, and this is not the way to do it. And so, as far as I’m concerned, the title of ‘Honourable’ will not pass my lips in the context of our political leadership! It is excessive and unnecessary and fuels the perceptions that the public owes our Parliamentarians rather than the other way around!And if, among some of the reasons they give for their slumbers, such as advanced age, then they’re seriously beyond their sell-by date (as many suspect) and should make way for younger, and more energetic people who take seriously their task of representing the nation and can do so with alacrity, energy and ongoing commitment.It seems as though Parliament only gets going if certain key words come into the conversation, such as ‘sex’, ‘polygamy’, ‘equality (with women)’, ‘hibernators’ or ‘homosexuals’ and the like. Certainly the key presidential phrases like ‘poverty’ ‘disease’ and ‘ignorance’ have absolutely no impact or resonance on our privileged parliamentarians.President Pohamba spoke for approximately an hour, and all I can say is our MPs certainly wouldn’t make the cut in Cuba, where el Commandante Fidel Castro could speak for up to 13 hours! I am sure there were penalties for those who didn’t pay full attention.And if you have to sleep in Parliament, at least be a little creative about it. Learn to snooze upright with your eyes open, rather than slump on your neighbouring MP or drool and dribble as you drift off! Ice cubes down the back of the shirt would work wonders if this continues. Better still, don’t nod off at all. Have some respect for your President!