Chris Jacobie –Flipside
THE mood and spirit of Namibia is slowly changing and mostly for the better.
It is impossible not to observe the positive improvements of accountability at some levels of the national household. It is also hard to ignore the first signs that the ethical and credibility examples of the President, Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah are spreading from traditional- to national leadership.
Moreover, she more than anyone and in the shortest of time awakens Namibians to the possibility that a return to dignity and respect is possible in a world where the politics of division is a fashion statement, sounding beautiful, but without substance and credibility.
And it is so, because President Ndaitwah is not fake. She is dignified, considerate, and stands by conviction.
Most of all, there is still a place of ethics, although leadership all over the world seems to abandon their own consciences at the cost of common sense, empathy and tolerance.
But…much more still needs to be done.
It is clear that President Ndaitwah does not have the team she deserves on all levels of the national household. It is also clear that there are the usual political appointees clinging to positions at all cost, swimming against the current of change, and misunderstanding her call to ethical government and decision making or not understanding it at all.
Therein lies the challenge that cannot ONLY be corrected by appointing the right people in the right positions, but MAINLY by removing the wrong people who occupy decision-making bodies for the wrong reasons.
Lest Namibians forget a very important political fact: As President of Swapo, it is she who has the power to remove rogue members in councils. In as much as she is unifying the nation around ethical and good governance, she is uniting Swapo that was threatened by a trojan horse onslaught from within the gates of the castle.
Namibians have paid a huge price of growing tribalism, because of the mistaken belief that if the Swapo power bases are divided, regime change can be affected. They know it is not so and coalitions destroyed good municipal government with the so-called alliances in Windhoek and Walvis Bay spectacularly collapsing!
The Swapo power bases will surely regroup and fight back against the tribal onslaught from opposition parties who demonised the Oshiwambo speakers of Namibia and isolated their own in the regions and towns they controlled.
What Namibians learned by now is that strong national leaders need a strong national mandate and support.
It was always and will always be the Namibian way.
The time has also come for every Namibian to return the favour and individually and collectively find ways to contribute more to speed up the unmistakable renaissance of dignity, ethics, and mutual respect and compassion Ndaitwah represents as a Namibian leadership symbol to the world.
Of course, the Ndaitwah-mantra that Namibians are too few to be poor is as certain as that the sun will always rise in the East and will set in the West.
But Namibians should add that “Namibians are also too few to be divided.
In floods, drought and epidemics every Namibian needs the next Namibian and it was proven so many times before that the power of unity for peace and stability does not even be discussed.
In as much as corruption, incompetence, and bad administration must be exposed and punished, more must be done to reward those that act ethical, effective, dignified and productively. It is the same for the private and public sector.
It is a matter of common sense that if the majority of a few good men and women are growing, there will not be place for the few corrupt and criminal minority.
The breeze of change is not something to only enjoy and admire, but is a sign that the national sails must be set towards the horizon and the oarsmen should heave the stormy waters and currents to a safe harbour for all.
Namibia is rapidly moving from comradeship and citizenship to Namibianship and nobody have a reason to isolate and leave themselves behind, when the President wants nobody to be left behind.
Unity is a national burden that each carry equally.
Namibians can congratulate themselves for standing as the gold standard of peace and stability in a world of mayhem and death at a rate that is nearly incomprehensible.
The Namibians who are too few to be poor, were not too few to maintain peace and democracy amongst themselves for the past 35 years. And, they are not too few now to the change course towards higher standards.
There are billions of well-off, employed and wealthy citizens all over the world, who would not hesitate to exchange places with the poorest Namibian in the remotest village for one week of Namibian tranquillity and peace.
It is not being recognised and appreciated enough, but Namibian peace and goodwill is steadfast like the rock of ages.
The nation is slowly but surely getting more settled and see that things are getting done with obvious coordination between State House and the Office of the Prime Minister.
She is more trusted than she can trust her public praise singers and knowing her and the First Gentleman, Lt-genl. Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah’s humility, it is safe to say that she and her husband might even privately be embarrassed by some of the honey-tongued devils parading as her unofficial political angels and inner circle.
Namibians must shout their achievements to the ends of the world, because they can be proud of every effort in this nation of too few. At the same time, they should soften their tone inside the Namibian household when they address differences to come to an agreement in the spirit of give and take that carried the nation for centuries.
The President in a very short time demonstrated that she is stubbornly committed to a better and unified Namibia for all.
The time has come for every Namibian to return the trust the President has in all Namibians, because that is what ethical behaviour requires of all.
The Netumbo way is the Namibian Way.
