Political Perspective: The Amathila Code

I’M STILL trying to read between the lines as to the reason for Ben Amathila’s abrupt departure, which he called ‘retirement’, from Parliament this week.

The here today, gone tomorrow approach appears an almost unseemly, overhasty departure given this Swapo veteran’s long-term struggle credentials and nearly two decades in public office. So people are left wondering what prompted a mid-month exit, and even while Amathila himself stated that it’s been a long time coming, people are nevertheless left pondering why, and given that he was Chief Whip, why he couldn’t have waited until the end of the current Parliamentary session just days away (April 28), after which it goes into a month’s recess.AND although he promised the reasons for his leaving “will all be in my speech”, they weren’t, or I don’t think they were.At least, they’re not glaringly obvious.But perhaps, given the man that Amathila is, they were, but we just have to search for them! Amathila’s character has always been absolutely non-confrontational.So perhaps we shouldn’t expect that he’s suddenly going to metamorphose into the sort of person who delivers the straight talk (and I don’t mean this in a negative way).His soft-spoken, almost reticent character hides a very thoughtful, and probably very insightful personality.I have no doubt that he has been hurt, quite literally, at the thought of the forces that have pulled Swapo apart since the three-cornered Party Presidential contest which unleashed such vitriol on several sides in 2000, where others revelled in the fight.And if he didn’t shed some tears at the time that happened, then he certainly had his head in his hands.There is obviously a reason as to why he chose the time to retire to be NOW, and he’s not told us in so many words, but I’m going to speculate nonetheless.Some of the clues are perhaps in his final statement to Parliament.Some have described it as weak, (and I too felt he could have used the opportunity to deliver some home truths) but again, it is not in his nature to spell things out in such final terms and with a generosity of spirit that is not self-evident in many of our politicians today.But to continue reading between the lines, if one considers some of the opening phrases from his rough notes: “Together all of us have put the bricks together …to build Parliament …the sailing was at times not that smooth …some Members’ feelings were hurt at times …sometimes we forget these objectives and choose to disagree where disagreement was not necessary …ambush each other at every corner …and good intentions got lost in the process”, he is clearly expressing regret at the infighting in Swapo in a holistic sense and the self-preoccupation that results from this.Which is why he cites Article 45 of the Constitution, which states: “The Members of the National Assembly shall be representative of ALL the people and shall in the performance of their duties be guided by the objectives of this Constitution, by the PUBLIC INTEREST and by their own CONSCIENCE” (my own emphasis).What he is obviously expressing is that the ruling Party has been remiss in not always adhering to these principles.He also emphasises two key points, being hope and security, and I believe he is saying that most Namibians deserve to have both and aren’t necessarily being given these.He is thus reminding Parliament (and more particularly the ruling party) of their responsibilities toward the broad masses of this country, which are not necessarily being delivered because of the current state of division within Swapo.He realises also the futility of mediation attempts, including his own, and demonstrates a recognition that only one man can heal the wounds and he challenges him to do so.That is none other than Swapo President Sam Nujoma, to whom he gives credit (but not ALL the kudos, as some like to bestow on him) for getting the country where it is today, and then challenges him, like the classic case of Humpty Dumpty, to bring it all together again! “Swapo Party has the responsibility to run this country well and instil hope where fear and insecurity prevails.”This, he clearly says, is Nujoma’s task.In return, if Nujoma treats everyone as a father should do, he would be accorded recognition and respect.Finally, my analysis of his speech is that he’s said what others have said in slightly stronger terms before.But he has made a point, and his ‘retirement’ (read ‘resignation’) from Parliament is actually a demonstration of his protest.He is leaving also, in his own words, “to do some other things I failed to do”.That, I hope and believe, may be the definitive and real history of the struggle for the liberation of this country.I wish him well.So people are left wondering what prompted a mid-month exit, and even while Amathila himself stated that it’s been a long time coming, people are nevertheless left pondering why, and given that he was Chief Whip, why he couldn’t have waited until the end of the current Parliamentary session just days away (April 28), after which it goes into a month’s recess.AND although he promised the reasons for his leaving “will all be in my speech”, they weren’t, or I don’t think they were.At least, they’re not glaringly obvious.But perhaps, given the man that Amathila is, they were, but we just have to search for them! Amathila’s character has always been absolutely non-confrontational.So perhaps we shouldn’t expect that he’s suddenly going to metamorphose into the sort of person who delivers the straight talk (and I don’t mean this in a negative way).His soft-spoken, almost reticent character hides a very thoughtful, and probably very insightful personality.I have no doubt that he has been hurt, quite literally, at the thought of the forces that have pulled Swapo apart since the three-cornered Party Presidential contest which unleashed such vitriol on several sides in 2000, where others revelled in the fight.And if he didn’t shed some tears at the time that happened, then he certainly had his head in his hands.There is obviously a reason as to why he chose the time to retire to be NOW, and he’s not told us in so many words, but I’m going to speculate nonetheless.Some of the clues are perhaps in his final statement to Parliament.Some have described it as weak, (and I too felt he could have used the opportunity to deliver some home truths) but again, it is not in his nature to spell things out in such final terms and with a generosity of spirit that is not self-evident in many of our politicians today.But to continue reading between the lines, if one considers some of the opening phrases from his rough notes: “Together all of us have put the bricks together …to build Parliament …the sailing was at times not that smooth …some Members’ feelings were hurt at times …sometimes we forget these objectives and choose to disagree where disagreement was not necessary …ambush each other at every corner …and good intentions got lost in the process”, he is clearly expressing regret at the infighting in Swapo in a holistic sense and the self-preoccupation that results from this.Which is why he cites Article 45 of the Constitution, which states: “The Members of the National Assembly shall be representative of ALL the people and shall in the performance of their duties be guided by the objectives of this Constitution, by the PUBLIC INTEREST and by their own CONSCIENCE” (my own emphasis).What he is obviously expressing is that the ruling Party has been remiss in not always adhering to these principles.He also emphasises two key points, being hope and security, and I believe he is saying that most Namibians deserve to have both and aren’t necessarily being given these.He is thus reminding Parliament (and more particularly the ruling party) of their responsibilities toward the broad masses of this country, which are not necessarily being delivered because of the current state of division within Swapo.He realises also the futility of mediation attempts, including his own, and demonstrates a recognition that only one man can heal the wounds and he challenges him to do so.That is none other than Swapo President Sam Nujoma, to whom he gives credit (but not ALL the kudos, as some like to bestow on him) for getting the country where it is today, and then challenges him, like the classic case of Humpty Dumpty, to bring it all together again! “Swapo Party has the responsibility to run this country well and instil hope where fear and insecurity prevails.”This, he clearly says, is Nujoma’s task.In return, if Nujoma treats everyone as a father should do, he would be accorded recognition and respect.Finally, my analysis of his speech is that he’s said what others have said in slightly stronger terms before.But he has made a point, and his ‘retirement’ (read ‘resignation’) from Parliament is actually a demonstration of his protest.He is leaving also, in his own words, “to do some other things I failed to do”.That, I hope and believe, may be the definitive and real history of the struggle for the liberation of this country.I wish him well.