I AM a villager by birth resulting into a poet by self-propelled choice and a journalist by training. But I can still smell the ground when the rain on a good day hits the earth within or outside our cattle kraal in the village – that particular smell of cow dung mixed with dry, thirsty soil of the savannah … do you still remember that Comrade President HIfikepunye Pohamba?
We were together on a two-man party mission in Moscow when it was still the capital of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), we were again together in Togo – West Africa, when you led our delegation to an international conference and then again in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) before the Berlin Wall came down leading to the re-unification of the German nation and one Federal State. More significantly perhaps was the time when I spent three months with you and Aaron Shihepo in Hydra – Algiers, Algeria.
We talked about politics, war and peace on these occasions and we never ceased to talk about home, our villages and your village of Okanghudi in northern Namibia. That is a long time ago for me but it may sound like yesterday to you for you have lived longer, fought longer for this country’s independence.
As a matter of fact, you have spent a good deal of your adult life in politics, within and outside Namibia. And of course, we lived in Tanzania, Zambia and Angola together before the United Nations repatriation of all former exiles in 1989.
August 18, 2013 marks your 78th birthday and what a great walk through life it has been. Nationally and at the village of Okanghudi people clasp hands in prayer for you and mind you – tiny hands of little ones across the country are also doing that too joined by adults singing ‘happy birthday dear President’ echoing throughout our mountains and villages in unison.
Lastly, I was one of the last people to receive, on August 26, 2010 – at the town formerly known as Lüderitz, I was invited to join the Alumni of the Namibian National Honour System as Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Namibia, 3rd Class. I wear that ‘medal’ proudly around my neck. I am told that things have changed, more people from all walks of life are going to be honoured this time at Omugulu-gwOombashe on August 26, 2013 – I am saying this because I am the first journalist to be honoured thus far. Happy Birthday Comrade President Hifikepunye Pohamba.
• Mvula ya Nangolo, a journalist, writer and a poet of note is also the Special Advisor to the Minister of Information and Communication Technology.