Deconstructing Ban Ki-Moon's visit to Namibia

Deconstructing Ban-Ki

Moon’s visit to Namibia

By Moses Magadza

WINDHOEK (June 24, 2004) - Ban Ki-Moon, the eighth Secretary General of the United Nations, will be visiting Namibia  from 24-25 June, 2014. It will be a rare visit in 24 years by a UN Secretary General to the country that enchained the attention of the intergovernmental organisation during its liberation struggle.

The relationship between the United Nations and Namibia is special and goes back many years.  The UN played a seminal role in Namibia’s independence. Expectations are that the visit by Ban Ki-Moon will give him an opportunity to appreciate the immense progress Namibia has made since independence.

History records that before independence Namibia – which was called South West Africa then – was given to South Africa within a trusteeship mandate. Later, South Africa’s mandate was challenged in the 1960s and the United Nations (UN) is credited for leading that legal struggle as well as for galvanising international consensus around Namibia’s struggle for independence.

In addition to that political leadership which was led by Africa within the councils of the UN, the UN took measures to adopt the country as a problem of the UN. In those days, the UN had a dedicated council for Namibia that was responsible for the tutelage of the fledgling nation. The UN set up an Institute for Namibia which current Prime Minister Dr Geingob headed in Lusaka, Zambia.

Ambassador Musinga Bandora. Photo: Moses Magadza

In an exclusive interview, Ambassador Musinga Bandora, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Namibia, said the mandate of the UN Institute was to train Namibia’s future leaders and technocrats. Additionally, negotiations within the context of Resolution 435, which paved the way for Namibia’s independence, were conducted within the framework of the UN.

 “At the political leadership, negotiations and building human capacity for Namibia, the UN led the way,” Bandora said.

He said given the association of the UN with Namibia’s independence, 24 years later, it was opportune for the UN Secretary General to visit, see and learn from Namibia about the challenges that the country has faced since independence, as well as to appreciate progress made.

Bandora opined that the fact that it had taken many years for a UN SG to visit Namibia again was a good sign that things have been moving relatively smoothly in the country.

 “Unfortunately, it’s conflicts that attract the attention and the engagement of a UN Secretary General. If a country is peaceful and managing its activities well, it would be least on the agenda of the United Nations Secretary General.”

He said it was good that the SG had made time to visit Namibia.

“Good performers should be appreciated and commended.”

 

Rare Opportunity

Ban Kin-Moon’s visit presents an opportunity for Namibia, as represented by President Pohamba, to engage the SG face-to-face with respect to the partnership between the UN and the country. The visit will enable Namibia to share with the UN SG the challenges it faces both as an individual country within its own development context, and as part of the SADC region and the African continent.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba

President Pohamba is the Chairperson of the SADC Organ for Peace and Security. In that capacity, he has led SADC efforts in terms of Peace and Security in the Great Lakes, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), were SADC forms the bulk of the UN intervention force that is stabilising the DRC.

SADC has also led efforts that have paved the way for political negotiations in Madagascar. The regional bloc is observing elections in the region and has just observed elections in Malawi. It will be involved in forthcoming elections in Mozambique, Lesotho and Namibia.

Bandora said SADC had a very key role to play within the region and Namibia being the chair of the SADC Organ for Defence, Peace and Security, had a specific role to play. Within this context, Ban Ki-Moon’s visit may present an opportunity for Namibia and the UN to explore partnerships to see how the two entities can work together to consolidate peace and democratic transition in SADC in particular and Africa in general.

Apart from involvement in what is happening in the Great Lakes, Africa, through the African Union Peace and Security Council, is battling with crises in the Horn of Africa, Somalia, South Sudan, Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali to name but a few hot spots.

Ban Ki-Moon’s visit is happening also on the eve of the 23rd AU summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The AU is expected to discuss issues of peace and security on the continent’s agenda, which forms the theme for the AU summit which will be Food Security and Agriculture. Beyond that, Africa is looking at the post 2015 development agenda.

“This (Ban Ki-Moon’s visit) is an opportunity for Namibia to discuss with the UN SG what the views of Namibia are. President Pohamba is a member of the High Level AU Committee on the post 2015 agenda which recently met and devised the African Common Position on the post 2015 Development Agenda,” Bandora said.

 Lots to show

Bandora said Ban Ki-Moon’s visit places Namibia’s successes under the spotlight.

“Namibia has done well. It has moved from being a least developed country, to being a middle income country. Namibia is widely regarded as an example of good economic management, reconciliation, national stability, human rights and press freedom. The country therefore has a lot to share with the SG and the rest of the world.”

Great Expectations

While this is essentially a visit to the Head of State, well-known University of Namibia lecturer and social commentator Mr Ndumba Kwanyamah hopes that, time permitting, Ban Ki-Moon would be able to see around Windhoek and appreciate the challenges of housing, sanitation, as well as to get an appreciation of the inequalities that exist in the country notwithstanding its middle-income status.



Social commentator Mr. Ndumba Kwanyamah

Kwanyamah described the impending visit as very significant for the country, stressing that Namibia is a “baby of the UN.”

“I am not underestimating the importance of the liberation struggle and the war that was waged, but we also have to know that we got our independence because of (UN) Resolution 435 which paved the way for Namibia’s first democratic elections. It is significant because this was the first success story of the UN in terms of maintaining peace and stability. It is, therefore, good for him to come and see where Namibia is now in comparison to where it used to be before independence and where the country is headed.”

Kwanyamah said he hoped that Ban Ki-Moon would walk through Katutura, talk to ordinary people and see the daily challenges that people are facing especially in informal settlements.

“It would be nice if he gets to see the reality on the ground. Yes, Namibia is a success story for the UN but like other countries, it still faces many social and economic challenges that need to be addressed. I hope he will be frank and emphasise the importance of fighting poverty and high income inequality.”

Uneasy Head

It was King Henry in William Shakespeare’s Henry The Fourth, who famously said: “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” One could say and still be right: “Uneasy lies the head of the person who heads the UN.”

In the six years that he has been at the helm of the United Nations which brings together 192 member nations from around the world, Ban Ki-Moon has not had it easy. During his tenure, there has been a resurgence of internal and inter-state conflicts across the world. He has presided over the UN Secretariat during wars in Iraq, Syria, the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes, the Sahel, Libya and other hot spots.

Peace and security have been perhaps his biggest challenges.  He has also presided over the UN Secretariat at a time of transition. The tail end of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is happening under his watch. Although much of the work was done under Koffi Anan, the evaluation of the MDGs as well as the conversation around the post 2015 Development Agenda are taking place during his tenure.

Ban Ki-Moon is overseeing the transformation of the UN Secretariat and other institutions within the UN system including the whole gamut about delivering as one, as well as strengthening UN coordination at country levels. Overall, one can say that he has had a very challenging time.

Nevertheless, some commentators see Ban Ki-Moon as a hands-on person who is passionate and hard-working, traits which they say have translated into effective leadership.

Email: moses.magadza@gmail.com