Seven years of President Geingob: We did not break
Emeritus Professor André du Pisani is right to state that Geingob draws on different sources of power…[which] sets him apart from his predecessors. 1
My small intervention intends to look at the presidency as a persona, Dr. Hage Geingob, and what that office has been able to achieve since 2015.
President Geingob has introduced us to institutions, processes and transparency as primary considerations of our political system. The current president has set the bar of transparency and accountability high for the next president. The hallmark of his leadership has been encouraging free thinking, exemplified by a consultative approach to governance. His leadership has invited each citizen to create for him/herself a sense of hope for the ideal Namibia.
This presidency appears to have taken tangible steps, which includes looking at our physical environment and all the resources it holds, as shared across the generations, ensuring that the benefits from its use, exploitation or extraction are equally shared across the generations. A prime example is advancing a green agenda, which includes the renewable energy feed-in-tariff which has led to a proliferation of solar and wind energy projects. In recent times, this has included the Green Hydrogen initiative, which seeks to position Namibia as a leader and prime producer of a fuel of the future. There has been some perception of corruption in Namibia in the past, but the environment that was created by the current administration allowed it to be exposed, leading to what appears to be an almost unprecedented discovery of corruption. Where corruption has been discovered, processes that supported it have been reformed, and institutions left to attend to the malice.
President Geingob, regardless of what the debate might be of how they got there, has introduced a high number of young people to and promoted their advancement in government, as advisors, technocrats and in the legislature, especially in the second administration, that are coming up with innovative ideas and adding a youthful vigour and brash ideas to the country’s development agenda.
How these generational infused leaders are able to take over the mantle or position themselves as developmental bankers to allow the country to cash in on its youth dividend, is entirely up to them.
This presidency further expanded the democratic space and the democratic discourse in relation to the people he invited into the NamibianHousetoincludeeventhose who speak vile things concerning and/or about him. These all show that a democratic space has been created on his watch, allowing legitimate ideas to flourish.
Notwithstanding anything that is happening globally, recession, pandemic, thedebatearoundthe high debt level and the re-emergence of ethnic ideology and politics, President Geingob kept the country afloat and together. He created a social safety net for those who needed it due to an almost decade-long drought. We have had headwinds before, but the administration of Hage Geingob has extended its hand in a manner not seen before. Knowing the reality on the ground, this presidency has considered the old-age pension which is not only in consideration of individual pensioners, but taking into account the context of them being heavy- laden with a burden of having to take care of grandchildren. This is a substantive necessary intervention, whether seen as politicking to the naysayers. His expectations of competent (even if yet to be fully realised) and educated citizens has been laid open in order to send a message of politics not being a career of last resort. His intention must have been to underscore the fact that we have a country to run, notwithstanding the need for mobilisers and loyal cadres. All are equal citizens who need to be marshalled into service, provided they have the necessary skills and competence to be of great service to the country. All of the above are issues he has not been afraid to express, and as a country that is what we should demand too, competence in every sphere of our lives.
All things being equal. President Geingob, notwithstanding the persistence of the unexpected headwinds and independent intervening variables, has proven to be a better shepherd, in addition to being a continuous inspiration to the nation. He never failed to show up for work, despite losing close associates, comrades, friends, fellow citizens and relatives.
President Hage Geingob taught us that hope for a different and/or better tomorrow is the necessary life force, notwithstanding the harshness of life and the strain on the economy. The purpose of a leader is to inspire, more importantly so during trying times. Due to the fiscal reality and the external happenings around us we did bend, but because of a new type of leadership, we did not break. We are still on our feet and ready to reimage.
*Joshua Razikua Kaumbi is a holder of BA Political Science and Sociology (Unam), LLB (Stellenbosch) and an admitted legal practitioner, currently the Chief Legal Advisor of the Namibia University of Science and Technology. His opinions are expressed in his capacity as a Namibian by birth, and do not reflect those of his employer.