When one voluntarily elects to stand up amidst firing bullets, one should expect to become a person of interest to those whose aim is to tarnish and smear the name of the person you stood up for in the first place. I write what I know, guided by a deep conviction of fairness and justice.
Of recent, I have realised a heightened interest, which resembles microscopic zooming into my personal life to an extent akin to a lifestyle audit. While, this author was an early proponent of lifestyle audits, as early as 2016, I would have preferred to face that level of scrutiny once I have amassed discernible wealth, and not beholden to the banks for everything I own.
I now face a situation whereby my every move whether personal, professional is dissected through a political allegiance lens. This has now reached an extent where my ability/inability to breathe will be attributed to the third President of Swapo and our Republic.
I have always believed that defending the gains of our revolution was not something to write home about, nor have I felt that my defence and support for our president should be linked to my every achievement or above-board gain. I am extremely privileged to have a professional career, that has ranged from youth officer serving the interest of our youth (courtesy of Nahas Angula), to being a legal advisor to a critical national institution and serving as a governance expert on several SOE boards (courtesy of Cabinet as a collective chaired by the sitting President) to ensure adherence to principal mandates. The aim of the struggle was after all for political and economic emancipation, if behad is to article 21(1)(j) of the widely acclaimed Namibian Constitution.
I view my voice as a vocation enabled by my devotion to fairness, which I often employ to defend the first citizen against nefarious political machinations that seek to undermine his popular public mandate to provide leadership to our country in these trying times. I further wield that very voice to remind those in power of our unmet expectations as citizens and the yoke of structural inequalities that diminish our hopes for a life of dignity.
A life of dignity is my wish for those for whom amidst the fights I fought I forgot to fight for, those who will remain with my memories, my children. My life lived in service cannot be reduced to transactionalism with my permission.
I have of recent fielded several enquiries as to whether I have applied for fishing rights, to which I replied in the affirmative, as an equal citizen of my country, with a chance to partake in the economic activities my country has to offer. In pursuit of this, I have always been guided by my love for morals and ethics, which human flaws notwithstanding has kept me on the even path hitherto, which includes not seeking special favours because of political or professional associations.
I have variously faced accusations of all types of other ills, depending on whom my competitor is at a given time. Bernard Shaw continues to teach me from beyond the grave, that “A life spent making mistakes is better than a life spent doing nothing”, despite the occasional pausing to come up for air. Whatever the consequences, we dare not stop doing or saying what must be done for fear of the poisoned darts that seek to silence the truth and ultimately destroy this country.
If the opportunity presents itself, based on evidence of an untoward conduct, and am required to choose between standing up for what define and glue us as a nation and foregoing the economically inconsequential metric tonnes and any personal interest, I will no doubt choose the former. Just as the first citizen moved with purpose this month as the nation was watching where he stood, vanquishing any notion that he tolerates even a perception of impropriety, and burnishing into our collective psyche that he unequivocally stands with Namibia, I too shall not be found wanting.
We ought to meet him where he is and join the fight against the deep-set inequalities in our society, which requires collective effort and a compact for the rededication to service at every level of leadership and governance. In order to keep our country, we ought to heed this call unreservedly, and serve from where we stand.
Whatever averments Dr Tjama Tjivikua made in his dying days as vice chancellor of our second university, is unfortunately attributed to paranoia and is denied to an extend that he is put to the strict proof thereof whilst still alive.
*Joshua Razikua Kaumbi is a holder of BA Political Science and Sociology (Unam), LLB (Stellenbosch) and an admitted legal practitioner. His opinions are expressed in his capacity as a Namibian by birth, and not choice