The dollars roll in for law firm’s ‘Father of Nation’ fund

PARTNERS of Metcalfe Legal Practitioners say they have received “overwhelming” support after setting up a fund to defend former President Sam Nujoma and three others in a case lodged with the International Criminal Court.

Lawyer Louis du Pisani yesterday said “people reacted beyond our expectations” with pledges and actual cash after The Namibian carried a story yesterday revealing that the law firm had set up such a fund. Metcalfe Legal Practitioners pledged N$20 000 to the fund.”Patriotic Namibians will welcome the news that two further institutions have each pledged N$5 000 to bolster our N$20 000 pledge.These institutions are the Namibia Network Information Centre and Remax Coastline Property Centre,” the partners of Metcalfe Legal Practitioners said in a statement.An account named ‘Father of the Nation Account’ has been set up with Standard Bank Namibia into which all donations will be deposited.Independent auditors (Grand Namibia) have been appointed to administer the account.”In the event that the monies in such account are ultimately not required for legal fees, the monies will be donated to a charity nominated by our Founding Father,” the law firm said.The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) approached the International Criminal Court to investigate why Nujoma has refused to explain what happened to people who went missing before and shortly after Independence.The NSHR said Nujoma’s continued refusal to explain the whereabouts of the people provided good reasons for the ICC to investigate him, former Defence Minister Erkki Nghimtina, former Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Solomon ‘Jesus’ Hawala and NDF First Battalion Colonel Thomas Shuuya.The ICC has confirmed that it is weighing the merits of the NSHR submission.Metcalfe Legal Practitioners said they had money in trust for “legal fees which may be necessary to resist misplaced steps …against our Founding Father and other heroes”.The law firm’s actions were questioned by one lawyer who expressed scepticism about the move and expressed concern that it could be used as a marketing tool.Metcalfe Legal Practitioners said they were astonished that scepticism could be expressed in the face of such a serious matter, which has the potential to be the event most threatening to the peace and stability of Namibia since the Caprivi secessionist attempt.”It is noteworthy, however, that the anonymous sceptic’s voice seems to be a lone one in the wilderness and is not representative of the views and sentiments of the broader Namibian society.The sceptic has also taken a cowardly approach of being an anonymous critic,” Metcalfe Legal Practitioners said.”We reiterate our call to all patriotic Namibians and business personae to pledge funds in support of our call for peace, stability and good reason in our country.”Metcalfe Legal Practitioners pledged N$20 000 to the fund.”Patriotic Namibians will welcome the news that two further institutions have each pledged N$5 000 to bolster our N$20 000 pledge.These institutions are the Namibia Network Information Centre and Remax Coastline Property Centre,” the partners of Metcalfe Legal Practitioners said in a statement.An account named ‘Father of the Nation Account’ has been set up with Standard Bank Namibia into which all donations will be deposited. Independent auditors (Grand Namibia) have been appointed to administer the account.”In the event that the monies in such account are ultimately not required for legal fees, the monies will be donated to a charity nominated by our Founding Father,” the law firm said.The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) approached the International Criminal Court to investigate why Nujoma has refused to explain what happened to people who went missing before and shortly after Independence.The NSHR said Nujoma’s continued refusal to explain the whereabouts of the people provided good reasons for the ICC to investigate him, former Defence Minister Erkki Nghimtina, former Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Solomon ‘Jesus’ Hawala and NDF First Battalion Colonel Thomas Shuuya.The ICC has confirmed that it is weighing the merits of the NSHR submission.Metcalfe Legal Practitioners said they had money in trust for “legal fees which may be necessary to resist misplaced steps …against our Founding Father and other heroes”.The law firm’s actions were questioned by one lawyer who expressed scepticism about the move and expressed concern that it could be used as a marketing tool.Metcalfe Legal Practitioners said they were astonished that scepticism could be expressed in the face of such a serious matter, which has the potential to be the event most threatening to the peace and stability of Namibia since the Caprivi secessionist attempt.”It is noteworthy, however, that the anonymous sceptic’s voice seems to be a lone one in the wilderness and is not representative of the views and sentiments of the broader Namibian society.The sceptic has also taken a cowardly approach of being an anonymous critic,” Metcalfe Legal Practitioners said.”We reiterate our call to all patriotic Namibians and business personae to pledge funds in support of our call for peace, stability and good reason in our country.”