Before 11 September 2001, the dominant view was that states are the only important factor in international politics.
Despite isolated protests from constructivist scholars, arguing for consideration of norms and identity, scholars and practitioners influenced by the political realism of Niccolo Machiavelli and Hans Morgenthau continued to urge international politics students to less-privileged non-state actors.
Morgenthau dismissed constructivists’ submissions as inconsequential in international politics. To him, international politics is an autonomous exclusive sphere where states pursue national interests.
On 11 September 2001, when a non-state actor Al-Qaeda inflicted enormous harm on the United States killing close to 3 000 people, this dramatically changed. The US declared ‘War on Terror’ going after non-state actors.
Those previously uninterested in identity, norms and molarity of non-state actors became interested.
The Americans learned from the tragedy and began rewiring the world. Its War on Terror was forced down the throats of the world.
Those who disagree must-visit Lossen Street in Windhoek, housing the Ombudsman office, which was closed for more than 10 years at the behest and caprice of the US. Everyone had to comply.
What is clear is that the US learned from their tragedy and took the necessary steps to avoid similar occurrences.
More than six million Jews were killed at Auschwitz and during what is known as The Holocaust during the Second World War. In 1952, West Germany under Konrad Adenauer agreed to pay the Jews 3 billion marks with the Jews diplomatic organisation, the World Jewish Congress, receiving 450 million marks.
From this tragedy, the Jews organised, uplifted and elevated themselves to a powerful political, economic and social position that ensured that these tragedies never recur.
After independence in 1966, Botswana understood the need to reverse the colonial economic arrangements.
The country ensured that Debswana, a diamond mining company, is owned by the government and De Beers in equal measure – 50/50.
Botswana did not stop at equal shares like Namibia did with Namdeb. It went on to obtain 15% shares in De Beers itself.
By implication, Botswana is a shareholder in Namibian diamonds. From the tragedy of colonialism, Botswana positioned itself as an economic architect of its destiny.
It is now regarded, with Mauritius, as one of Africa’s successful developmental states.
What about Namibia? You may wonder.
Last week, 15 people died when a minibus and a sedan collided near Okahandja.
President Hage Geingob released a statement offering his condolences and cautioning drivers to observe and respect traffic rules.
About two years ago, on 17 March 2019, 13 passengers burned to death when two minibuses collided on the B1 road between Otavi and Tsumeb.
Geingob had released a similar statement.
In August 2006, President Hifikepunye Pohamba released a condolences message that urged drivers to observe and respect traffic rules following the death of 12 people who burned when the minibus collided with two pick-up trucks on the Kalkrand/Rehoboth main road.
Fifteen years later, one would believe that the only thing that changes is the number of victims and the name of a president.
The 1849 words of Jean-Baptiste Karr reverberate: “The more things change, the more they stay the same”.
This is a microcosm of our society.
In March 2018, Saima Thomas and her three years old son Lukas Shindinge died when their shack was washed away by flood in Windhoek informal settlements.
Nehemia Shindinge, her partner, managed to save their two-day-old son.
As activists, we organised a bed and other goods for Shindinge and his baby.
Following our visit, government officials including the prime minister rushed to him after our visit making similar donations.
About three years later, the households in riverbeds remained all over Namibia’s informal settlements. A recurrence is possible.
Before the 26 July 2020 Twaloloka fire that leftover 200 people homeless in Walvis Bay, shack fires were common.
On 28th January 2014, about 30 people were left homeless when their shacks caught fire. Annalie Ganases burned to death.
There was no decisive intervention. If elections were not six months away when the Twaloloka fire occurred, one wonders what would’ve been the response.
Shacks’ conditions remain the same. A similar or larger reoccurrence is possible.
In March 2012, Johannes Shapange (22), a University of Namibia student, died in the hostel after he was stabbed 14 times by a fellow student.
Two years later, in May 2014, Lucia Kaunamwene (22) committed suicide ostensibly hours before her graduation.
Two years later again, in July 2016, a final year student Jino Mbomboro (23) died after jumping from a second-floor window of his hostel room. In February 2019, again two years later, Helao Hamuteta (22), a third-year student, died when she was repeatedly stabbed and her throat slit by her alleged lover.
Two years later, in June 2021, the body of student Mukuve Kanyanga (22) was found floating in the Kavango River.
These cases, of students as victims and perpetrators some of which borders on mental health, would have one believe that the university developed internal preventative/responsive/alert capacity.
With the recent neoliberal restructuring that saw the dean of students office reduced to managerialism, this capacity is doubtful.
In 1995, GIPF introduced the Development Capital Portfolio (DCP) enabling the distribution of more than N$ 600 million to 21 elite connected companies. Most of these companies were later liquidated or their debts are written off.
In short, money got lost.
Like the DCP that enabled GIPF to father Christmas N$600 million to cronies between 1995 and 2005, the Marine Resources Amendment Act was passed in 2015 to enable the biggest billion-dollar-corruption in post-colonial Namibia.
Five years later, the Bank of Namibia Act (Act No 1 of 2020) that removed the age limit of Bank of Namibia governor was passed to benefit preferred Johannes -Gawaxab to reign as governor.
The new law also made provision for double deputy governors. This provision presented an opportunity for Leonie Dunn, then director of the Financial Intelligence Center (FIC), to be removed from FIC to become a deputy governor.
Dunn’s removal/promotion is political chess par excellence. From the tragedies of corruption, Namibia doesn’t seem to learn.
The same modus operandi persists – Namibians and their leaders seem to be in some modus vivendi whose result is in the realm of speculation.
In a final analysis, Namibia seems to be a country concerned with today only – the now society – a society that continues to suffer the same, familiar and historical pain.
In a community of nations, such societies are not taken seriously beyond geography and metaphysics.
From our inertness, we must move towards a society of tomorrow – a society that learns from the past and present to shape tomorrow.
In 2022, may we work hard in moving towards this society – learning from tragedies to avoid or mitigate the repeat of similar events.