Highs, lows and challenges

DK: Mr President, reflecting on a life well-lived, spanning over close to eight decades, what was the ultimate highlight thus far and why?

HG: My young and adult life has been about the struggle for independence. I left Namibia in 1962 at the age of 21, investing time and energy in the ultimate objective of freedom for Namibia. In light of that, Swapo winning the elections, Independence Day on 21 March 1990, the South African flag being lowered, the hoisting of the Namibian flag and being sworn in as prime minister remain seminal moments in my life. Without question, being sworn in as third president of the Namibia was a crowning moment in my life.

DK: Our lives are shaped by the challenges we overcome. What was the most significant challenge you have had to deal with and what was/is its impact on your life?

HG: I have been faced with several challenges in my life. The decision to leave everything behind and go into exile was not easy. As a teacher, I was not the most deprived of persons those days. But my own circumstances became immaterial in the face of greater injustice at the time. So, I left.

In exile, setting up the United Nations Institute for Namibia was daunting. We had to start from a blank page, and ultimately we created an institution that trained many Namibians in exile, preparing them for the task of governance. Some are today in influential positions, including the current chief justice, the prosecutor-general and many others.

But I have to tell you that drafting the constitution was the most challenging. We had to confront those who denied us independence, including through arms. As chairperson of the Constituent Assembly, I had to bringing people together, push for a reconciliatory tone, asking all to forget their differences and move together as a people. There were doubts that we could move together, and moments of uncertainty prevailed inside and outside the chambers. I had a confidence-building exercise when we started. I met with Jannie de Wet and others; they felt that we don't like them, including Afrikaans. I broke the ice by starting to speak Afrikaans with them. There was fear of the unknown at the time. So, I told them I want my children to have three meals a day. And I asked what their concerns were. We agreed that they also had the same concerns for their children. So, I said must hold hands and move the process forward. We managed to complete the process in three months. That process has impacted my life, and my outlook. It fostered a strong belief in me that Namibians are great people. We can differ, but we all belong to the Namibian House, and should never be tempted to resort to violence to solve our differences. We have to do it the Namibian way, always with foresight and focus on the sustainability of the Namibian House.

DK: You have been in the office for three-and-a-half years. What does it mean for you, professionally and personally to be the head of state of this beautiful country? Also, what is your least favourite aspect of leading this country?

HG: I consider myself to belong to what I refer to as the third wave of post-independence African leaders. The first wave was characterised by extraordinary personalities leading their respective countries to independence. Moreover, some of them played an extraordinary role in fighting for the independence of other African countries. I am of course talking about Nkwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Ahmed Sékou Touré of Guinea Conakry, Modibo Keita of Mali and Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, to list but a few. Presidents Sam Nujoma and Nelson Mandela are in that league of leaders, endowed with charisma and drive to occasion independence and freedom. The second wave of leadership in Africa was not particularly flattering, we witnessed coups d'état and one-party state rule, reversing the gains of independence in some instances.

As I said, for the third wave, after delivering on the goal of freedom and independence, the task is to deliver on prosperity and a better life for Namibians. More importantly, a Namibia that exists in a united and prosperous Africa. To deliver on that prosperity mandate, we need processes, systems, and institutions that are properly geared. It is the only way in which the sustainability of Namibia can be guaranteed.

On the question of what my least favourite aspect is, I was always part of the collective leadership. Presidential office was not a big shock to me. Contrary to belief, I was not dying to be a president. It was not an end in itself.

But for some sections of the population to feel that others are not qualified to lead based on race, ethnicity or background could be a painful thought. Therefore, when 87% of Namibians overwhelmingly voted for me, and our share of the National Assembly increased to 80%, it made me realise that Namibians believe in unity. The small-minded are a tiny minority. As head of state I am here to serve all Namibians.

DK: Namibia has made significant strides in a number of areas. We have managed to greatly tackle mother-to-child-transmission of HIV. You recently received international recognition for our contribution to gender equality and the Swapo-led government is adamant about a 50/50 balance and the zebra system. Government's commitment to poverty alleviation is evident in our social grants systems. Which are the accomplishments that you are most proud of? Having said that, a lot still needs to be done. What, according to you, are Namibia's most serious challenges? Are we doing enough to fight poverty in light of many Namibians still going hungry?

HG: No one can claim that we have not qualitatively improved the lives of the majority of Namibians over the past 28 years. It would be dishonest. We have had many highs and a few lows. But, the best is yet to come for Namibia. In 2015, we calibrated the Swapo manifesto of 2014 into a government blueprint, the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP) - a four-year impact plan aiming to accelerate development. The HPP, also a product of town hall consultations, is a significant accomplishment to guide government action. I always say that people don't eat elaborate plans; they want to see tangible results. We have been working hard on outcomes. We have made progress on gender equality, an important accomplishment. We have an old-age pension grant system that reaches 99% of the intended beneficiaries. With the singular objective of poverty eradication, the old-age pension in 2015 saw a 60% increase to a respectable N$1 200, and it is still increasing. It is an important poverty eradication tool, since the elderly look after grandchildren in many of our communities. The multiplier effect of that decision is felt far and wide.

Also, beneficiaries of the disability grant increased from 35 217 to 39 245.

When you say that many Namibians go hungry, I question your data. At independence, 70% of Namibians lived in poverty. According to the 2015/16 National Income and Expenditure Survey, overall poverty has now declined to 18% from 37.7% in 2003/04. Food poverty declined to 5.8% from 9% during the same period. So, I don't know what you are talking about.

Yes, as president, a Namibian who goes to bed hungry, is one too many! We will continue to do more work to eradicate poverty, and the imminent extension of the food banks to other areas of the country, including the south and the north will go a long way as an intermediate action. The food bank is not a panacea; it is one of several interventions.

Fighting poverty is a goal of government, eradicating it by 2025 is an objective. We are doing fairly okay, and we will do more. Poverty is relative, but our commitment is to eradicate it.

We want the majority of Namibians to be in the middle-class; we want to create a belt-shaped society - to bridge the gap between rich and poor.

We have done enough and whole lot to improve the conditions of Namibians. In established countries, poverty exists. It's not an excuse, but complete equality is a good utopia. We will continue to do more.

DK: The second national land conference is expected to take place in October this year. Land remains a burning issue. What are the possible solutions?

HG: It will take place as widely communicated from 1 to 5 October. Regional consultations have been in motion, allowing people to express themselves. We will discuss the findings and craft a way forward that will be in the interests of all Namibians, while preserving our unity and strengthen our chances of a better future. I constantly remind that land is not a panacea. The critical challenge is for us to address poverty and create employment opportunities for many. Urbanisation is a reality here and a global trend, suggesting that less and less Namibians are tilling the land. So, it is a clear indicator of what our focus should be - deepen the manufacturing base and create jobs in sectors with high growth and high employment potential.

DK: In July a group of six men were arrested in the Zambezi Region for alleged conspiracy to commit high treason. Are you worried about the situation in the former Caprivi?

HG: Namibia is governed by the rule of law - our basic law requires us to do so. We have a progressive constitution and Mishake Muyongo was one of the drafters. He signed up for a unitary state and the territorial integrity of Namibia is not negotiable. Namibians should not be misled. They won't be misled! For those seeking to return from Dukwe, I gave instructions that no one must be intimidated. Namibians must be allowed to return to their country. They must be reintegrated to pursue their normal lives and make contributions to our development as a country.

DK: Republikein on 11 July reported that many state schools were on their knees as they had not yet received their N$33 per child subsidy from government. What do you make of this?

HG: It was administrative negligence - people are sleeping on the job and we should deal with such cases. I can't and won't tolerate that.

DK: Was free primary and secondary education a good idea?

HG: To increase access to education was a good idea, especially in a context where the past was based on exclusion and limiting educational opportunities for the majority. With that decision, we have dealt with the question of access to primary and secondary education. Education is the greatest equaliser, I always say. It explains why we spend a significant percentage of our GDP on education, sitting in the top tier globally. We owe it to our children. The next challenge is quality, and a greater focus on science and mathematics.

DK: What about the prospects for free tertiary education?

HG: Our two tertiary institutions, the University of Namibia (Unam) and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) are heavily subsidised. Unam and Nust receive respectively N$960 million and N$600 million. That is around 50% of the budget of the higher education ministry. When you introduce Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), wholly funded by government to the amount of N$1.4 billion, you will note that our investment in higher education is consequential. At around 20%, our tertiary enrolment ratio is very high relative to our peers in the region.

DK: And now for some lighter questions. What is your favourite food?

HG: Pap and Oshikandela.

DK: What is your favourite drink?

HG: Rooibos tea, but increasingly coffee because I was asked to decrease my sugar intake.

DK: What are you reading at the moment?

HG: I read a couple of books at the same time. Due to my schedule, I pick chapters that speak with urgency to the issues confronting Namibia and Africa. Issues of inequality, empowerment, unemployment and land are foremost on the agenda of government, so I have by my bedside, Thomas Piketty's Capital in the 21st Century and Ibrahim Mayaki's Africa's Critical Choices.

DK: What are the fundamentals for a successful marriage?

HG: This being my third marriage; I am not qualified to talk about it (laughs). But just like politics and governance, the same ethos applies - transparency and accountability equals trust.

DK: What is your fondest childhood memory?

HG: Under apartheid, life was tough for the majority. I looked forward to going to the farm, playing soccer, singing in the choir. Respect for elders those days was an article of faith.

DK: How do you deal with conflict?

HG: I believe in negotiation and bringing people to the table. In the 1990s, workers at Tsumeb Corporation Limited (TCL) went on a paralysing strike. We solved it in the interest of the country. With every challenge that we face as a government, I encourage sustainable solutions to strengthen the state, and not to weaken it.

DK: Who is/are your role model/s?

HG: I admire Fidel Castro for his tenacity in the face of adversity, attention to detail and the ability he had to listen and share views that were profound. His ability to shape direction in an inclusive and supportive manner was astounding. I met him in 1977 in Havana, Cuba, accompanying President Nujoma, who spoke to him at length about the direction our struggle was to take. When Comrade Nujoma finished, an impressive revolutionary and good listener that he is, Comrade Fidel offered unconditional support to the phase of our struggle that we were about to launch. He informed us that it was our revolution and we had to direct it, but the people of Cuba would support that new phase.

DK: How do you deal with disappointment?

HG: I deflate disappointment and I move on to the next challenge.

DK: How do you handle good news?

HG: I am not particularly good at celebrating victories, more so when they are political. I measure very quickly the task at hand and the need to reconcile opposing sides.

DK: What makes you angry?

HG: I have a particular dislike for lies and laziness. I am really allergic to those two.

DK: Which are your most important values?

HG: My whole life has been about the struggle for justice. That is why honesty, fairness and commitment to service are values that animate my life.

DK: Mr President, we are starting to wrap up. However, I would like to touch on a couple of other equally important matters. Freedom of expression, including freedom of the press, is regarded as one of the cornerstones of democracy. In our case, it is also provided for in our constitution. What is your view of Namibian media?

HG: Our struggle was about freedom of expression, as the majority was not allowed to express freely. I have repeated several times that freedom of the press is guaranteed, and I even went further to say that as long as I am president, it will remain the case.

But we need a professional media corps, robust and informed about the issues. We have junior reporters covering offices that are way above their competencies and abilities. Quality is compromised. The Fourth Estate should always focus on facts, be accurate and not lie. As a cornerstone of our democracy, it should be impartial. We should avoid tabloid journalism, which is counterproductive for our democracy.

DK: Gender and sexual minorities, like the LGBTI community, say their plight is being either overlooked or ignored in Namibia. What is your view?

HG: We are concerned about poverty, homelessness and hunger. The rights of sexual minorities are guaranteed.

DK: In some instances our health sector leaves much to be desired. We have heard horrible stories about the dilapidated state of infrastructure and negligence. Are we failing our people?

HG: No, we are not failing our people. We are systematically addressing the quality of infrastructure across the country. For a long time maintenance has been a problem, and Namibians vandalise their own infrastructure. Civic education is necessary in that connection.

DK: How do you see the future of Swapo and its role in Namibia? Also, what is your view on opposition politics in Namibia? Do they succeed in holding the ruling party accountable?

HG: Swapo has a great future provided there is focus on renewal, moving with the times and delivering on its mandate as the ruling party. Thus far we have done very well, with other parties in this country copying what we do and our innovations in terms of practices. You should not forget that there are many other liberation movements that struggled after two decades in power. Swapo has been bucking the trend, and during the last presidential and National Assembly elections, our share of the vote hit a record at 87% for the presidential candidate and 80% for the party. It is a clear manifestation of our ability to reinvent ourselves and deliver on the mandate of a party in government.

DK: What is your stance on the quality of the discourse in parliament?

HG: I am not satisfied at all. That is why I am inviting Swapo MPs for a discussion at State House in the coming weeks. It is disappointing to note that after delivering a State of the Nation Address (SONA), the Q&A is hardly focussed, and goes in all sorts of directions. It shows that there is little application on the part of MPs.

But it is encouraging to note that our parliament is not unruly. There is civility and restraint, which is what is expected of MPs. Still, we have to discuss and maintain standards, including how we could improve like in any other parliament.

DK: What is your opinion on US president Donald Trump?

HG: No comment.

DK: What is the one thing many do not know about Hage Gottfried Geingob?

HG: I leave that to family, comrades and friends to pronounce on.

DK: How will you be spending your birthday?

HG: I will spend my birthday with the elderly in Swakopmund. If anyone is planning to provide gifts, these should be given to the elderly.

DK: What would you still like to achieve professionally and personally?

HG: As president, I want peace to be preserved and inequality and poverty to be eradicated. I have given a significant part of my life to serve Namibians. When I leave office, I will focus on writing and spend time with family.

DK: What should your epitaph be one day?

HG: Someone who tried his best for Namibia.