Political Perspective

WHY the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) would go to the extent of a press conference to support a N$5 million lawsuit by former President Sam Nujoma against this newspaper is beyond me.

They’re big on saying who’s pulling whose strings and there’s always an imperialist plot somewhere in all issues they pronounce themselves on, but I guess it’s no secret as to who’s pulling theirs! PERHAPS they were prompted by their political bosses in the ruling party to do so, against the background of the fact that both the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) and Misa had issued statements in support of The Namibian, but the subject of the controversy is more in line with the abovementioned organisations than it is with the NUNW. Anyway, affiliation to the ruling party headed by Nujoma clearly means that the organisation in question, in this instance the NUNW, clearly has to follow the leader! Which is fine by me.Democracy gives them the right to be puppets if they want to be.But I do wish they’d argue their case more coherently and without the usual meaningless rhetoric.The issue which has now galvanised the NUNW into action is clear: The Namibian, with the rest of the media locally and abroad, reports on the Companies Act inquiry into the missing SSC millions at the hands of Avid, in the course of which former President Nujoma is named in an affidavit.That’s it.Plain and simple.Not according to the NUNW though.”We are deeply disturbed by what appears to be a political conspiracy engineered by certain anti-Namibian and anti-Swapo Party organisations in the country, which conspiracy is predicated on nothing else but their unbridled enthusiasm for the destruction of all progressive African leaders”.(sic) Now where on earth does this unfounded, nonsense statement come from? Not true that this action on the part of the former President has the effect of muzzling the media or suppressing public opinion, NUNW adds.”On the contrary, the lawsuit will encourage responsible reporting as well as promote credible whistle-blowing”.If anything, it will serve to drive responsible reporting deeper underground by virtue of the fear factor, which the likes of the NUNW continue to want to instil in the populace.And how this lawsuit can promote what they call credible whistle-blowing, is a mystery to me.And what is ‘credible’ whistle-blowing, anyhow? I presume they mean ‘selective’ whistle-blowing from which ‘comrades’ should be exempt? And finally, the NUNW “calls on the members of the progressive social strata to join forces and fight against all forms of imperialism in defence of our African heritage as bequeathed by the likes of President Sam Nujoma”.He’s still President then, according to the NUNW in what appears to be an unfortunate demonstration of where their political allegiances truly lie? President Hifikepunye Pohamba is now head of state, in case they don’t know it already; or is the NUNW unwittingly supporting those alleged conspirators whom they claim are trying to topple what they term progressive African leaders? They really need a dose of responsibility themselves.There is only one President here: President Pohamba.Reference to Nujoma should be: Swapo President Nujoma.Perhaps NUNW should support the change of title of the Swapo leader from ‘President’ to ‘Chairman’, which I gather is on the drawing board.This will eliminate some confusion about the title of ‘President’ and it will also assist the NUNW when they compile their press statements in future! They’re right to say that the former President can sue if he wants to (whether he in fact should is another matter altogether!) but I suppose it’s good that he can be sued right back, especially now he no longer has the immunity he enjoyed as head of state.The NUNW must also adapt their rhetoric to changing times.The word ‘imperialism’ really means a policy or practice of extending a state’s rule over other territories.There really doesn’t seem to be any danger of that happening, from whatever quarter, now or in the future for that matter.What is happening is simply an issue over which Namibians are at odds with one another.Nothing more sinister than that.So it would be positive if the NUNW would desist from its conspiracy theories and exercise a bit of independent thinking instead.It would be a refreshing change for all.Anyway, affiliation to the ruling party headed by Nujoma clearly means that the organisation in question, in this instance the NUNW, clearly has to follow the leader! Which is fine by me.Democracy gives them the right to be puppets if they want to be.But I do wish they’d argue their case more coherently and without the usual meaningless rhetoric.The issue which has now galvanised the NUNW into action is clear: The Namibian, with the rest of the media locally and abroad, reports on the Companies Act inquiry into the missing SSC millions at the hands of Avid, in the course of which former President Nujoma is named in an affidavit.That’s it.Plain and simple.Not according to the NUNW though.”We are deeply disturbed by what appears to be a political conspiracy engineered by certain anti-Namibian and anti-Swapo Party organisations in the country, which conspiracy is predicated on nothing else but their unbridled enthusiasm for the destruction of all progressive African leaders”.(sic) Now where on earth does this unfounded, nonsense statement come from? Not true that this action on the part of the former President has the effect of muzzling the media or suppressing public opinion, NUNW adds.”On the contrary, the lawsuit will encourage responsible reporting as well as promote credible whistle-blowing”.If anything, it will serve to drive responsible reporting deeper underground by virtue of the fear factor, which the likes of the NUNW continue to want to instil in the populace.And how this lawsuit can promote what they call credible whistle-blowing, is a mystery to me.And what is ‘credible’ whistle-blowing, anyhow? I presume they mean ‘selective’ whistle-blowing from which ‘comrades’ should be exempt? And finally, the NUNW “calls on the members of the progressive social strata to join forces and fight against all forms of imperialism in defence of our African heritage as bequeathed by the likes of President Sam Nujoma”.He’s still President then, according to the NUNW in what appears to be an unfortunate demonstration of where their political allegiances truly lie? President Hifikepunye Pohamba is now head of state, in case they don’t know it already; or is the NUNW unwittingly supporting those alleged conspirators whom they claim are trying to topple what they term progressive African leaders? They really need a dose of responsibility themselves.There is only one President here: President Pohamba.Reference to Nujoma should be: Swapo President Nujoma.Perhaps NUNW should support the change of title of the Swapo leader from ‘President’ to ‘Chairman’, which I gather is on the drawing board.This will eliminate some confusion about the title of ‘President’ and it will also assist the NUNW when they compile their press statements in future! They’re right to say that the former President can sue if he wants to (whether he in fact should is another matter altogether!) but I suppose it’s good that he can be sued right back, especially now he no longer has the immunity he enjoyed as head of state.The NUNW must also adapt their rhetoric to changing times.The word ‘imperialism’ really means a policy or practice of extending a state’s rule over other territories.There really doesn’t seem to be any danger of that happening, from whatever quarter, now or in the future for that matter.What is happening is simply an issue over which Namibians are at odds with one another.Nothing more sinister than that.So it would be positive if the NUNW would desist from its conspiracy theories and exercise a bit of independent thinking instead.It would be a refreshing change for all.