The contender ‘who came from nowhere’

THE joker. Or is he? Nahas Angula prefers to call himself a teacher.

Despite his Ndonga royalty, Angula did not harbour the idea that he was “anointed” to be Head of State. Turning 61 later this year, the Minister of Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation Minister was considered a dark horse until well after the spectacular fall-out of former Prime Minister Hage Geingob as a serious presidential contender.The recently axed Foreign Affairs Minister, Hidipo Hamutenya, was seen as the popular front-runner ahead of Swapo vice president Hifikepunye Pohamba. Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab was also mentioned as a possible successor ahead of Angula.”Of course, I must admit that I have never had any strong Presidential ambitions before.However, circumstances do sometimes dictate the evolution of a person’s life history,” Angula said this week.He has proved to be nimble.No sooner had Swapo announced the aspirants, the man whose walk could be confused for a swagger, and an under-developed taste in fashion wear [to put it mildly], was out with a campaign manifesto – a to-the-point message on a postcard; and his curriculum vitae.Angula Nahas Angula was born at Onyaanya in the Oshikoto region. He is a descendant of Ondonga King Shikongo shaKalulu, who received the first missionaries in that part of the country.The Minister is proud of this “enlightened” background and is only too happy to flaunt it. This despite his political boss, Swapo and Namibian President Sam Nujoma at times casting aspersions on missionaries.”The reason why I believe in education and enlightenment comes from very far,” Angula said in an interview last month.He became a Swapo (South West Africa People’s Organisation) member at Ondangwa in 1963, while 20 years old. Since then, little else has defined his life.Two years later, Angula went into exile, where he was to study, work, marry, have children [he is married to Tangeni Kathrine, with four children] and leave the family in the general care of Swapo while carrying out the movement’s duties.In between, he was reading and playing in-door games, according to his CV.After qualifying as a teacher in Zambia, Angula’s first job was setting up schools in the refugee camps, part of what he calls “challenging assignments” given to him by Swapo.Accepting, almost unquestioningly, Swapo assignments is what made the subsequent graduate of Columbia University in New York a presidential hopeful. Swapo founder Andimba Toivo ya Toivo and Health Minister Libertina Amathila nominated him.Angula says he merely responded “to the call of national duty”.Supporters believe his “clean”, straight-talking, “man of the people” demeanour, easy rapport with people, endless jokes and inexpensive lifestyle make him the best candidate.His opponents suggest that some of those characteristics could “lower” the seriousness of the Office of the President.Angula has a quick tongue, is a master at giving quick retorts, creating the impression that little thoughtfulness is accorded to utterances. His transparency and openness can be seen as lacking finesse.Like most politicians, Angula can play dirty, as he did in 1999 with Congress of Democrats leader Ben Ulenga by releasing a so-called dossier which alleged that the former Robben Island prisoner sold out his comrades and collaborated with his apartheid captors.But Angula’s supporters are prepared to overlook that, and argue that their man is not afraid to speaks his mind.He publicly criticised President Nujoma’s decision to split the Ministry of Education in 1995, though he took the job he was given.In the National Assembly he is one of few Swapo lawmakers who constantly criticises his party comrades on a range of issues.Some say Angula is a strict disciplinarian.”I don’t know what you mean but if you come to my meeting late I’ll show you the door.”He is against corporal punishment in schools and has always been.Home is different.”Nambata is my child I have the right to discipline her if she is misbehaving,” says Angula, when asked whether he never laid a hand on his daughter.”That’s a different thing as far as I’m concerned.”That would seem to make Angula a mix of a strict disciplinarian and joker in the formal sense.”Who told you that Presidents don’t joke? That’s another misguided character assassination that ‘Nahas is just a joker. He is not serious’.”Don’t be misled by a teacher when he is joking. That’s how he teaches. The office [of the President ] demands certain characters that shape you.”Angula remains popular in the party and it is not unthinkable that he could overtake the other two nominees, especially if seen as a compromise between the supporters of Hamutenya and Pohamba.Turning 61 later this year, the Minister of Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation Minister was considered a dark horse until well after the spectacular fall-out of former Prime Minister Hage Geingob as a serious presidential contender.The recently axed Foreign Affairs Minister, Hidipo Hamutenya, was seen as the popular front-runner ahead of Swapo vice president Hifikepunye Pohamba. Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab was also mentioned as a possible successor ahead of Angula.”Of course, I must admit that I have never had any strong Presidential ambitions before. However, circumstances do sometimes dictate the evolution of a person’s life history,” Angula said this week.He has proved to be nimble. No sooner had Swapo announced the aspirants, the man whose walk could be confused for a swagger, and an under-developed taste in fashion wear [to put it mildly], was out with a campaign manifesto – a to-the-point message on a postcard; and his curriculum vitae.Angula Nahas Angula was born at Onyaanya in the Oshikoto region. He is a descendant of Ondonga King Shikongo shaKalulu, who received the first missionaries in that part of the country.The Minister is proud of this “enlightened” background and is only too happy to flaunt it. This despite his political boss, Swapo and Namibian President Sam Nujoma at times casting aspersions on missionaries.”The reason why I believe in education and enlightenment comes from very far,” Angula said in an interview last month.He became a Swapo (South West Africa People’s Organisation) member at Ondangwa in 1963, while 20 years old. Since then, little else has defined his life.Two years later, Angula went into exile, where he was to study, work, marry, have children [he is married to Tangeni Kathrine, with four children] and leave the family in the general care of Swapo while carrying out the movement’s duties. In between, he was reading and playing in-door games, according to his CV.After qualifying as a teacher in Zambia, Angula’s first job was setting up schools in the refugee camps, part of what he calls “challenging assignments” given to him by Swapo.Accepting, almost unquestioningly, Swapo assignments is what made the subsequent graduate of Columbia University in New York a presidential hopeful. Swapo founder Andimba Toivo ya Toivo and Health Minister Libertina Amathila nominated him.Angula says he merely responded “to the call of national duty”.Supporters believe his “clean”, straight-talking, “man of the people” demeanour, easy rapport with people, endless jokes and inexpensive lifestyle make him the best candidate.His opponents suggest that some of those characteristics could “lower” the seriousness of the Office of the President.Angula has a quick tongue, is a master at giving quick retorts, creating the impression that little thoughtfulness is accorded to utterances. His transparency and openness can be seen as lacking finesse. Like most politicians, Angula can play dirty, as he did in 1999 with Congress of Democrats leader Ben Ulenga by releasing a so-called dossier which alleged that the former Robben Island prisoner sold out his comrades and collaborated with his apartheid captors.But Angula’s supporters are prepared to overlook that, and argue that their man is not afraid to speaks his mind.He publicly criticised President Nujoma’s decision to split the Ministry of Education in 1995, though he took the job he was given.In the National Assembly he is one of few Swapo lawmakers who constantly criticises his party comrades on a range of issues.Some say Angula is a strict disciplinarian.”I don’t know what you mean but if you come to my meeting late I’ll show you the door.”He is against corporal punishment in schools and has always been. Home is different. “Nambata is my child I have the right to discipline her if she is misbehaving,” says Angula, when asked whether he never laid a hand on his daughter. “That’s a different thing as far as I’m concerned.”That would seem to make Angula a mix of a strict disciplinarian and joker in the formal sense.”Who told you that Presidents don’t joke? That’s another misguided character assassination that ‘Nahas is just a joker. He is not serious’. “Don’t be misled by a teacher when he is joking. That’s how he teaches. The office [of the President ] demands certain characters that shape you.”Angula remains popular in the party and it is not unthinkable that he could overtake the other two nominees, especially if seen as a compromise between the supporters of Hamutenya and Pohamba.