Esther Shakela
Shortly after President Hage Geingob declared 2022 as The Year of Reimaging, scholars and linguistic experts did not hesitate to question the meaning behind the word ‘re-imaging’ and its contextually relevant application to the Namibian house. It was the thinking of seemingly a majority that perhaps it was a spelling error, and what the President intended to say was reimagining. Of course that notion was dispelled during the 38th Covid-19 briefing, during which the President reiterated that this is indeed The Year of Reimaging.
The word reimaging is variously defined. One of its technical definitions refers to the reinstallation of operating systems and applications on a computer; similar to restoring a computer back to factory settings. Its more abstract meaning, however, is to create a new image of someone or something, the formation of a new mental picture, a renewed representation of something. While images are visible expressions, they primarily exist within the chambers of our minds. “What you see is what you get”? A perfect phrase to help us understand the importance of intrinsic vision. Motivational speakers implore us to change our thinking and improve our mindsets because that is what shapes our actions. We have become masters of creating vision boards because we appreciate the relationship between imagining what we desire and its manifestation.
2021 was undoubtedly a trying year; characterised by uncertainty, loss of lives and hope, and the crushing of dreams. It traumatised us, and any mention of events that occurred during that year would certainly warrant a “triggered” response from a gen Z.
At the dawn of 2021, most of us had hope that the pandemic would wear off and life could finally return to normal. Instead, it persisted. With its persistence came the closure of business, which meant that the livelihoods of many were severely affected; economic growth stalled as funds needed to be redirected towards the fight against Covid-19; commercial activity became an opportunity cost as lockdowns and curfews were imposed in efforts to curb the spread of the virus in order to save lives; the school calendar underwent a series of reforms to adjust to the constantly changing regulations, and not to forget, the leakage of examination papers towards the end of the year, which overhauled the entire examination process.
In his statement, the President calls on us “to think anew as a nation and move forward with renewed enthusiasm and vision”. He further affirmed that indeed 2021 tested our resolve and faith, but encouraged us to enter the year with optimism. Perhaps His Excellency is entreating us to commit to the nationwide creation of a vision board – yay!
Barely a month into the year, and we have already been through the bowls (omatiti). There are many who are unable to envision an ideal Namibia, even on their own terms. The inability to do that is what hinders them from actively participating in nation-building. We will find difficulty in committing ourselves to what we have not formed images of already. As a country, we rarely watched the Olympics or supported sports activities in any way, and that can be attributed to the fact that after Frank Fredericks, many of us could not picture victory for Namibia at a global level. Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi changed that. That is the essence of re-imaging.
A reimaged nation will first and foremost exist in our minds before we express her unique qualities through our actions. It is our collective responsibility to shape Namibia into the country we desperately need it to be; one that is embracing of all of us. Nothing compels us to action like inspiration from within.
The daunting task is to hope and act with confidence that our expectation will not be cut off. That like a phoenix, we can rise from the ashes; individually and as a collective. That we have been resilient enough, it is now time to live again, without fear. We have been through it as a nation. It is not a bad idea to dare to envision better for ourselves. Whether it is reimaging or the reimagination that some would so badly rather have, it does not matter, the task is the same – it is a clarion call to the audacity of hope.
*E sther Shaleka studied Public Management (Political Science) at the University of Namibia. She is the acting spokesperson of the Namibia National Students Organisation. Views expressed herein are her own, and not of the organisation.