By Mbatjiua Ngavirue
WINDHOEK
There are strange happenings at the University of Namibia (UNAM).
First, they announce a public lecture by a prominent Zimbabwean academic, then abruptly cancel it without explanation.
The university in conjunction with the Namibia Institute for Democracy invited Professor John Makumbe of the University of Zimbabwe to present a lecture titled “Landscapes of Poverty – Daily Life and Social Crisis in Zimbabwe”.
Early in the morning of the same day it had scheduled to present the lecture UNAM issued a cryptic message telling the public nothing.
“The university is, unfortunately, not at liberty to discuss the reasons behind the cancellation,” UNAM said in a curt statement.
To local observers who have always looked at UNAM with a slightly jaundiced eye, this will no doubt confirm their belief in the intellectual bankruptcy of the institution.
The Namibia Institute for Democracy (NID) issued a statement saying UNAM informed it yesterday morning that it wished to cancel its involvement in and its hosting of the lecture.
“UNAM has not officially informed the NID of the reason for pulling out of the event at such late notice,” the statement said.
NID planned to hold the lecture in conjunction with the Department of Sociology at Unam and was part of a series of six lectures jointly organised by Unam and the NID in this month and next month.
The NID said that it acted in good faith in organising the particular lecture with Unam.
According to the NID, the lecture series received the full backing of Unam as a contribution to the intellectual life of the university.
Professor Makumbe’s name and his topic were on the original list of lectures drawn up by the NID and Unam and the process of arranging the lectures went through the appropriate channels at the university.
“Furthermore, at no time did the university express any problem with this particular lecturer or his subject matter. In fact, the university has been advertising the lecture series including this particular lecture in several newspapers.
“The NID is concerned about the implications of this cancellation for academic freedom and freedom expression at the university and in Namibia in general.
“Professor Makumbe is a highly respected political scientist who has lectured previously in Namibia,” the NID said.
The NID confirmed it would also proceed with the lecture and the one to be delivered this evening at the Kalahari Sands Hotel.
It said that in view of the importance of continuing to promote mature democratic debate, the NID had decided to proceed with this evening’s lecture under its own name and with no Unam involvement.
The NID switched the lecture to the Namib No. 1 conference room at the Safari Court Hotel starting at 18h30, and also arranged a bus to transport people from Unam campus to the Safari Hotel.