Taking Over Of President’s Movie By Government Is Not A Solution

WHEN I bought a copy of The Namibian last week (I am one of those who have not boycotted the paper) and read the screaming headline attributed to a SPYL leader: “Government Take-over of Film Urged” I immediately concluded that there is something fundamentally wrong with the Namibian society.

Only this week, we have seen horrible pictures of hunger and destitution in a continent “that is at the risk of starvation.” A continent that is today requesting the West to write off the more than US$532 billion that has been forced down our throats through the IMF’s Structural Adjustment pill and imperialism/trans-national sucking pumps.A continent clearly shown in the latest CNN documentary ‘A Continent at Risk’ that stands accused of subjugating millions of its beautiful children to starvation, hunger and dreadful diseases.We can no longer deny these images that are resulting from senseless wars and military dictatorships.A continent that has to seriously take stock of its inability to fast-track development and therefore in need of redefining its development agenda and priorities.I am sure that for those who have: (1) watched these ugly dirty faces of African destitution and poverty on these major world TV channels (and please don’t jump to the conclusion that these are only stereotypical images of our continent); (2) who have watched the repeat of yet another Band Aid concert in Europe to save Africa; then we may have to realise that as much as we all respect and admire the great leader of our revolution Shafishuna Nujoma, as much as we want to be self-proclaimed patriots, this movie should have been right from its inception a Swapo Party project and not a PACON or Government priority for three reasons: Nujoma’s contribution to this struggle will NEVER be forgotten by every son and daughter of this country.Hence, there is no need to rush it through production out of personal interest or perhaps fear that “he may die before it is produced.”The President’s life story is so well documented in the text of his autobiography that I encourage Namibians to read before flocking to the theatre for the movie.Before rushing into the idea of the movie, the publishers or even Swapo should have invested more funds in the publicity and wider distribution of the book.Not many people have necessarily read this autobiography despite commenting on it.Government’s key priority is development.The production of movies is normally the domain of private-sector producers.If Government invests in this project, it must be through joint ventures that will ensure a sizable return to treasury, perhaps through the statutory body such as The Namibian Film Commission.Swapo is one of the richest liberation movements/parties, just like the ANC.These two movements have retained many friends and sympathisers all over the world who would not hesitate to raise funds for this epic if it is seen as the last chapter of the historical movement that they supported for close on forty years.Swapo, through its own channels, could not fail to raise N$53 million for such a project.Besides that, the party has already invested in a number of business ventures here in Namibia that ought to make it financially independent.I do not need to go into this.It is therefore time for SPYL to take charge of party projects like this one, instead of delegating this to Government.The party, through its own channels, could identify prominent producers and funding sources to enable the production of this movie.I am aware that Cabinet has already allocated more than N$50 million to this project and the way I know our decision-makers, this decision is not reversible.However, I am still confident that there are producers out there (even in Hollywood: the likes of Spike Lee, Eddie Murphy, Bill Cosby, Sidney Poitier and many others) who may take advantage of this heroic epic/plot to produce it commercially and market it profitably.In moviemaking, Treasury must be the very last resort.I am very much disappointed by Danny Glover who has been hailed by the United Nations as its “Goodwill Ambassador” (whatever that implies) but who by implication is linked to the abuse of a small country’s financial resource.He is also guilty by implication despite his colossal status.I still believe that perhaps a star like Spike Lee would have been a better choice for this project if we take into account his successful production of the movie MALCOLM X that also depicts the autobiography of one of the greatest heroes of Pan-Africanism in the Diaspora.Malcolm X was a hero.As for Carl Lumbly, I will wait and see the movie once it is in the theatre.But I am worried about his hurry to take on other projects elsewhere before this one is completed, as stated in the report.What is it that the public is not being told? As a leader of the Youth League Tjitunga Ngurare should by now realise that a trip by prominent information experts from his own party may be required at this time to canvass support from major movie-making producers in the Diaspora and to negotiate effective joint-venture agreements than the current ones under PACON to produce the movie.In this way, the party could derive direct financial benefit from the project, and the film would be widely distributed and marketed in all the continents.In addition, it will reduce further excessive government spending on this massive project.I do not think that it is wise to further commit Treasury to this project beyond what has already been provided (the N$15 million already wasted and the newly approved N$53 that needs to be watched carefully).Namibians should identify national priorities without allowing the claim to patriotism and emotionalism to prevent the country from taking sound, sensible but realistic decisions.We have to start facing tough choices.Our country is slowly sliding into poverty where the gap between the rich and the poor is seriously widening.Therefore, as a country, we have to be very prudent and vigilant in order to make balanced decisions on the allocation of resources.This is precisely what the Minister of Finance was saying during the budget debate in her attempt to bring down the current deficit.The issue of “patriotism vs non-patriotism” is no longer valid.It all boils down to economic determinism! Furthermore, I want to admit that Namibia as a country suffers from the tendency of using wrong people in wrong positions to say the wrong thing at the wrong time.For example, the timing of the Youth League movement’s urge for Government to take over this project is during the week when the microscope of the whole world is fixed on Africa, ‘The Continent at Risk’.The world is watching us to understand which development priorities we are budgeting for.The timing of this appeal is very dangerous for a country hoping to champion the debt cancellation crusade that even our new President is directly involved in judging from his trip to Washington.Secondly, if this is a Cabinet decision to take charge of this project, (which I suspect) then this information must not be delivered through the channel of the Youth League of a political party.It must be announced through the correct channels of communication.Thirdly, the production of this film needs the guidance of a selected panel of Namibian media experts trained exclusively in the media industry who understand how movies are produced, who appreciate the technicalities and complexities of the industry, who can advise on the market they are produced for, suggest cost-effective distribution outlets, and who can advise on the selection of characters and producers who are willing to sacrifice temporary payments/hand-outs from this movie project.They must avoid milking the initial capital in favour of long-term reward.We need experts with gifted negotiation skills and wits to convince even the likes of Don King to realise the potential of investing in such a popular plot for its long-term financial reward.I still believe that this movie could have stood a better chance if the current team was more opportunistic and ambitious to source funding from private sources across the globe.Fo
r example, our friends in the East (I would not mention them by names) as well as the Diaspora who supported the liberation struggle may be still interested in this project.Fourthly, we must avoid the “fly-by-night” producers whose names we cannot trace anywhere in the movie-making world (except of course Danny Glover whose precise role in this project is still unclear).Fly-by-nights could still subject the renewed government bail-out to further exploitation and production of low quality material that would even degrade the image of the former President.The squandering of funds and reported misuse of the resources have already degraded the personality of the hero that the movie wants to depict.Finally, I am happy that Ngurare has demonstrated courage to question the abuse, although disagreeing with the recipe he is proposing that Government must take over the production of this movie.Government Ministries do not produce movies for theatres… they only support development films.Please Note: I decided to comment on this issue because it is a media-related matter, my area of specialisation.I am not trying to evoke any debate about whether the project itself is a good project or not.In my view, the movie will lead to further debates about what is heroism in the context of Namibia.It will definitely lead to a fresh appraisal of a trust betrayed in the course of Namibia’s current enthrallment with the anatomy of imperialism.What happened? * Dr.Rukee Tjingaete holds a Ph.D degree in Mass Media from Michigan State University.His Ph.D.dissertation was on the topic: “The Intersection of Class, Race and Politics on Access to the NBC Television” (1997).A continent that is today requesting the West to write off the more than US$532 billion that has been forced down our throats through the IMF’s Structural Adjustment pill and imperialism/trans-national sucking pumps.A continent clearly shown in the latest CNN documentary ‘A Continent at Risk’ that stands accused of subjugating millions of its beautiful children to starvation, hunger and dreadful diseases.We can no longer deny these images that are resulting from senseless wars and military dictatorships.A continent that has to seriously take stock of its inability to fast-track development and therefore in need of redefining its development agenda and priorities.I am sure that for those who have: (1) watched these ugly dirty faces of African destitution and poverty on these major world TV channels (and please don’t jump to the conclusion that these are only stereotypical images of our continent); (2) who have watched the repeat of yet another Band Aid concert in Europe to save Africa; then we may have to realise that as much as we all respect and admire the great leader of our revolution Shafishuna Nujoma, as much as we want to be self-proclaimed patriots, this movie should have been right from its inception a Swapo Party project and not a PACON or Government priority for three reasons: Nujoma’s contribution to this struggle will NEVER be forgotten by every son and daughter of this country.Hence, there is no need to rush it through production out of personal interest or perhaps fear that “he may die before it is produced.”The President’s life story is so well documented in the text of his autobiography that I encourage Namibians to read before flocking to the theatre for the movie.Before rushing into the idea of the movie, the publishers or even Swapo should have invested more funds in the publicity and wider distribution of the book.Not many people have necessarily read this autobiography despite commenting on it.Government’s key priority is development.The production of movies is normally the domain of private-sector producers.If Government invests in this project, it must be through joint ventures that will ensure a sizable return to treasury, perhaps through the statutory body such as The Namibian Film Commission.Swapo is one of the richest liberation movements/parties, just like the ANC.These two movements have retained many friends and sympathisers all over the world who would not hesitate to raise funds for this epic if it is seen as the last chapter of the historical movement that they supported for close on forty years.Swapo, through its own channels, could not fail to raise N$53 million for such a project.Besides that, the party has already invested in a number of business ventures here in Namibia that ought to make it financially independent.I do not need to go into this.It is therefore time for SPYL to take charge of party projects like this one, instead of delegating this to Government.The party, through its own channels, could identify prominent producers and funding sources to enable the production of this movie.I am aware that Cabinet has already allocated more than N$50 million to this project and the way I know our decision-makers, this decision is not reversible.However, I am still confident that there are producers out there (even in Hollywood: the likes of Spike Lee, Eddie Murphy, Bill Cosby, Sidney Poitier and many others) who may take advantage of this heroic epic/plot to produce it commercially and market it profitably.In moviemaking, Treasury must be the very last resort.I am very much disappointed by Danny Glover who has been hailed by the United Nations as its “Goodwill Ambassador” (whatever that implies) but who by implication is linked to the abuse of a small country’s financial resource.He is also guilty by implication despite his colossal status.I still believe that perhaps a star like Spike Lee would have been a better choice for this project if we take into account his successful production of the movie MALCOLM X that also depicts the autobiography of one of the greatest heroes of Pan-Africanism in the Diaspora.Malcolm X was a hero.As for Carl Lumbly, I will wait and see the movie once it is in the theatre.But I am worried about his hurry to take on other projects elsewhere before this one is completed, as stated in the report.What is it that the public is not being told? As a leader of the Youth League Tjitunga Ngurare should by now realise that a trip by prominent information experts from his own party may be required at this time to canvass support from major movie-making producers in the Diaspora and to negotiate effective joint-venture agreements than the current ones under PACON to produce the movie.In this way, the party could derive direct financial benefit from the project, and the film would be widely distributed and marketed in all the continents.In addition, it will reduce further excessive government spending on this massive project.I do not think that it is wise to further commit Treasury to this project beyond what has already been provided (the N$15 million already wasted and the newly approved N$53 that needs to be watched carefully).Namibians should identify national priorities without allowing the claim to patriotism and emotionalism to prevent the country from taking sound, sensible but realistic decisions.We have to start facing tough choices.Our country is slowly sliding into poverty where the gap between the rich and the poor is seriously widening.Therefore, as a country, we have to be very prudent and vigilant in order to make balanced decisions on the allocation of resources.This is precisely what the Minister of Finance was saying during the budget debate in her attempt to bring down the current deficit.The issue of “patriotism vs non-patriotism” is no longer valid.It all boils down to economic determinism! Furthermore, I want to admit that Namibia as a country suffers from the tendency of using wrong people in wrong positions to say the wrong thing at the wrong time.For example, the timing of the Youth League movement’s urge for Government to take over this project is during the week when the microscope of the whole world is fixed on Africa, ‘The Continent at Risk’.The world is watching us to understand which development priorities we are budgeting for.The timing of this appeal is very dangerous for a country hoping to champion the debt cancellation crusade that even our new President is directly involved in judging from his trip to W
ashington.Secondly, if this is a Cabinet decision to take charge of this project, (which I suspect) then this information must not be delivered through the channel of the Youth League of a political party.It must be announced through the correct channels of communication.Thirdly, the production of this film needs the guidance of a selected panel of Namibian media experts trained exclusively in the media industry who understand how movies are produced, who appreciate the technicalities and complexities of the industry, who can advise on the market they are produced for, suggest cost-effective distribution outlets, and who can advise on the selection of characters and producers who are willing to sacrifice temporary payments/hand-outs from this movie project.They must avoid milking the initial capital in favour of long-term reward.We need experts with gifted negotiation skills and wits to convince even the likes of Don King to realise the potential of investing in such a popular plot for its long-term financial reward.I still believe that this movie could have stood a better chance if the current team was more opportunistic and ambitious to source funding from private sources across the globe.For example, our friends in the East (I would not mention them by names) as well as the Diaspora who supported the liberation struggle may be still interested in this project. Fourthly, we must avoid the “fly-by-night” producers whose names we cannot trace anywhere in the movie-making world (except of course Danny Glover whose precise role in this project is still unclear).Fly-by-nights could still subject the renewed government bail-out to further exploitation and production of low quality material that would even degrade the image of the former President.The squandering of funds and reported misuse of the resources have already degraded the personality of the hero that the movie wants to depict.Finally, I am happy that Ngurare has demonstrated courage to question the abuse, although disagreeing with the recipe he is proposing that Government must take over the production of this movie.Government Ministries do not produce movies for theatres… they only support development films. Please Note: I decided to comment on this issue because it is a media-related matter, my area of specialisation.I am not trying to evoke any debate about whether the project itself is a good project or not.In my view, the movie will lead to further debates about what is heroism in the context of Namibia.It will definitely lead to a fresh appraisal of a trust betrayed in the course of Namibia’s current enthrallment with the anatomy of imperialism.What happened? * Dr.Rukee Tjingaete holds a Ph.D degree in Mass Media from Michigan State University.His Ph.D.dissertation was on the topic: “The Intersection of Class, Race and Politics on Access to the NBC Television” (1997).