Red-carpet State occasion leaves few words unsaid

THE pomp was one thing; the ceremony billed as President Sam Nujoma’s last opening of Parliament as head of state turned out to be a damp squib.

Several lawmakers struggled to keep their eyes open as the President read what many took to be his final opening speech, memorable for its unimpassioned delivery. Even when the President appeared to be chiding the Members of Parliament for failing to turn up for sittings and falling short of a quorum time and again, it seemed just like a statement taken from previous speeches.What was missing, said one parliamentarian, was Nujoma saying goodbye.But perhaps the President would reserve that the State of the Nation address later in the year.The ceremony began with the gathering of the Presidential Guard of honour under a sun whose heat was tempered by a cool breeze.Police, soldiers and “the men in black” milled about outside the Tintenpalast with a Y-shaped red carpet rolled down the stairs overlooking the city centre.More than an hour before the guest of honour arrived, MPs lined the balcony of the Tintenpalast’s second floor.Most men wore suits, giving them a slightly monolithic look.Only the DTA’s McHenry Venaani, the youngest legislator in the National Assembly, donned a hat.Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya sported a blue jacket and a maroon tie, and Deputy Information and Broadcasting Minister Gabriel Shihepo dazzled in a white jacket.The women were decked out in splendidly varied finery.Deputy Chairperson of the National Council, Margareth Mensah, was draped in funky white Xhosa wrap-arounds with an attention-grabbing hat; Health and Services Minister Dr Libertina Amathila chose something Oriental; the Congress of Democrats’ Nora Schimming-Chase was completely attired in a Herero dress.The President was driven up to the gates of the Government complex, from where he walked with the Speaker of the Assembly, Mose Tjitendero, Council Chairperson Kandi Nehova and Namibian judges.The military band played both the Namibian and African Union anthems, after which, Nujoma, wearing all-black, inspected the guard of honour while the band played the tune of ‘Malaika, naku penda malaika’.Inside the Assembly chamber, the President’s speech was interrupted only once for applause.The only other interruption came from the microphone system which twice emitted an irritating noise, but Nujoma paid no attention and ploughed on regardless.Even when the President appeared to be chiding the Members of Parliament for failing to turn up for sittings and falling short of a quorum time and again, it seemed just like a statement taken from previous speeches. What was missing, said one parliamentarian, was Nujoma saying goodbye. But perhaps the President would reserve that the State of the Nation address later in the year. The ceremony began with the gathering of the Presidential Guard of honour under a sun whose heat was tempered by a cool breeze. Police, soldiers and “the men in black” milled about outside the Tintenpalast with a Y-shaped red carpet rolled down the stairs overlooking the city centre. More than an hour before the guest of honour arrived, MPs lined the balcony of the Tintenpalast’s second floor. Most men wore suits, giving them a slightly monolithic look. Only the DTA’s McHenry Venaani, the youngest legislator in the National Assembly, donned a hat. Foreign Affairs Minister Hidipo Hamutenya sported a blue jacket and a maroon tie, and Deputy Information and Broadcasting Minister Gabriel Shihepo dazzled in a white jacket. The women were decked out in splendidly varied finery. Deputy Chairperson of the National Council, Margareth Mensah, was draped in funky white Xhosa wrap-arounds with an attention-grabbing hat; Health and Services Minister Dr Libertina Amathila chose something Oriental; the Congress of Democrats’ Nora Schimming-Chase was completely attired in a Herero dress. The President was driven up to the gates of the Government complex, from where he walked with the Speaker of the Assembly, Mose Tjitendero, Council Chairperson Kandi Nehova and Namibian judges. The military band played both the Namibian and African Union anthems, after which, Nujoma, wearing all-black, inspected the guard of honour while the band played the tune of ‘Malaika, naku penda malaika’. Inside the Assembly chamber, the President’s speech was interrupted only once for applause. The only other interruption came from the microphone system which twice emitted an irritating noise, but Nujoma paid no attention and ploughed on regardless.