Nujoma Be Like: ‘Let the Dead Bury the Dead’

Former president Hifikepunye Pohamba did well to remind Namibians that the departed struggle hero, founding president Sam Nujoma, would rather see people working than idly mourning his death.

During an interview with the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, Pohamba may not have been referring to the government decision to ban sport activities and outdoor public gatherings. Yet, the reminder is apt.

How ridiculous is it that the government assumes that having competitive sport and public gatherings during the period of mourning is “disrespectful”?

It’s understandable, for instance, to move an event from the Windhoek High School’s Vegkop Stadium as it will clash with the vigil and mourning activities at the Parliament Gardens next door.

In fact, there are existing by-laws to regulate noise pollution and a clash of events.

But stopping activities, many probably work-related, on account of being “disrespectful” does a disservice to the spirit of Nujoma, whose post-independence call to action at Swapo gatherings was often “Now! Hard work!”

Like Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Nujoma, who many eulogise as a messiah, would most likely have agreed with the Christian movement’s remark to “let the dead bury the dead” so that the focus is on continuing to build Namibia through hard work.