Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro
Quo vadis Namibian Revolution? Yours Truly Ideologically cannot but pose this question. Prompted into it after listening to the memorial service of the recently departed Deputy Bishop of the Church of Afrika, Zacharia Zac Ngetujame Makari.
At the time of his departure on Saturday the 30th of May, a man of cloth. Actually second in command of the Church of Afrika as Deputy Bishop but in charge in the interim following the death of Archbishop Paulus Kandjou early this year. How he landed behind the pulpit defies logic. Given his radical political outlook nurtured during the South African Apartheid regime’s occupation of Namibia.
Against which Makari and fellow learners did not only take a firm and uncompromising stand but were fearless agitators and resilient fighters, armed only with their unwavering and no-stand back action against the regime.
Makari could not have been groomed by none other than in the true traditions of two of the foremost revolutionary movements of the times, Swanu and Swapo. Especially Swanu whose socialist inclination if not conviction and deep belief rubbed on to Makari.
It may not have been much of Swanu’s and its leaders adherence to socialist ideals, which may have shaped Makari’s own inclination and belief in Socialism, but his own nature. Because despite Swanu’s programme for the reconstruction and development of post-independence Namibia, the renown “yellow book”, few of the party’s subsequent leaders, besides for those who drafted it while in exile, the likes of Moses Katjiuongua, Charles Kauraisa and others, firmly and ideologically believed in it.
Except for its romanticism and political appeal, and as an expedient and convenient revolutionary accompaniment in the days of the liberation struggle. Not that it did not have any buy-in from the internal Swanu contingent, like Hitjevi Veii and Sondagh Kangueehi, to mention but two.
But those buying into it were few and far in between. Hence its revision and dilution in latter years. Years during which Makari and fellows were becoming politically engaged and active. Thus becoming lone radical and daring voices in the party with firm belief in the socialist ideals Swanu had always stood for.
As it transpired from the memorial service for Makari, he was not the only radical and vibrant cadre at a critical period before the implementation of the UN Peace Plan for Namibia in 1989.
There were many of them within Swanu as well as Swapo. Who as much believed in the ideals of Socialism and/or the ideology of Marxist-Leninism. Only for most to disappear in oblivion as it has been seeming. With Makari opting for behind the pulpit. Was this destiny of what may have driven him? Hence the pertinent question: Quo Vadis Namibian Revolution? Because if anyone were to, if only belief in the Namibian Revolution, if there may be one, and advance it, it can be none other than the generation of Makari.
As opposed to the generation of the ageing geriatrics, Whoever, who at best should serve as the institutional memories of our past liberation movements and vanguard parties. Rather than drivers of the Namibian Revolution.
In view of the fact, that foremost, few of them are left who genuinely belief in Marxist-Leninism. Let alone having the necessary energy to drive a revolution. Not to mention the fact that for the last 35 years that the country has been independent, and thus the necessary and pre-requisite the foundation for such a revolution must and should have been laid, little to this effect manifests.
Because the trajectory that Namibia as a country has taken and been taking does not speak to a country being prepared for a socio-economic revolution and/or transformation, based on any different ideology other than Capitalism.
Thus the best memories Makari’s fellow could have of him, is by taking over the baton. Not necessarily specifically that of being behind the pulpit. But each and everyone from his/her vantage and vintage point, if only to halt the retrogression before helping re-gearing and re-positioning the country towards the relaunch of the Revolution, ultimately for the realisation of egalitarianism.
But the pertinent question is what may have happened to the likes of Makari. That given their credentials they seem to have been featuring nowhere in the Namibian social, political and economic fabric?
Not in the sense of being grabbers of opportunities, which seems to be the only occupation of the claim to public, social and communal services nowadays. Yours Truly Ideologically, in this regard cannot but note the current call by the members of parliament, as new as many are, for salaries’ increases. But to instead give and add to the fabric of society some measure of not only respectability but dedication and service.
Thereby helping to halt the country further spiral into economic, social and political ruins, that it has been destined and driven to by the current social, economic and political elite. It only takes the revolutionary class of the Makari era to jump start if not re-ignite the Namibian Revolution.
Given the advantage of knowing where the country is coming from, where it is and thus probably endowed with a better vision of where it must and should be heading to. That the current archaic crop of Meme NNN cannot be expected to realistically provide.
Surely as they say every generation makes its own history. Granted. For what generation really is and can the Meme/Tates be expected to be making history and for who? Her own. What history? Because where the country is today is not to engage in historical fantasies but visualise the future as it behooves the now generation and not the tomorrow generation. Likewise there’s also the risk of entrusting the country to the Star Wars generation . With no idea where the country was yesterday and/or on which to benchmark the now and tomorrow.
Hence the ideal of the generations of the Makaris who must be in their prime, by latter day Namibian standards. It is not difficult to see what may have happened to see and know why the likes of Makari may have been absent from public life proper. Because the Memes and Tates are and have been unwilling to give way to and for them.
That is why the onus and benefit of the doubt must be put the next generation, whatever it may be and means, as in Namibia generations seem to have been co-mingled, Hence the reason we today have a Meme in the highest office of the land. This is something the Namibians themselves seriously needs to calibrate.
But Yours Truly Ideology next means the likes of the late Mandela Kapere, and the just departed Makari. For many of them, except for those who have been swallowed and being swallowed by the beast’s belly, Capitalism, are still around. They cannot count on being called. By who? But the signs of the times which in modern day Namibia abounds. Poverty, hunger, and equality, to mention but three.
