17th May 2012 Windhoek, Namibia
Chargéing’ in Windhoek
Guest blog by new British High Commission Windhoek Deputy High Commissioner Simon Atkinson:
As a diplomat, there’s a (worrying) tinge of homeliness about airports. Not that I enjoy them much, more that they’ve become very familiar. As I perch on the latest bit of uncomfortable plastic (wishing the sense of homeliness would miraculously transform it into my sofa), I reflect on my first week as Chargé, covering for our High Commissioner to Namibia, Marianne Young. Marianne, by the way, brilliantly won the Foreign Office’s Excellence in People Award (so quite some shoes to fill!)
I should say at this point that I’m usually based in Cape Town (I know, I know – very fortunate!), as Deputy Consul General. But I’m also officially accredited as Marianne’s deputy to Namibia – one of the Foreign Office’s innovative ways of supporting our global footprint (Windhoek is classed as a ‘very small post’ with only one UK diplomat). If you want my full title (which I love telling my parents): Deputy Consul General and Head of Political, Cape Town and Deputy High Commissioner to Namibia (I use very small font for my business cards). So this week, in Marianne’s absence, I’ve based myself with the team in Windhoek. As well as spending valuable time with colleagues, I’ve tried to get as much of a sense that a week allows of the economic, social and political situation in Namibia. I met with a number of politicians, diplomatic colleagues, media, and business people. I even got to celebrate Europe Day,
and had my picture taken for the papers with Peter Gostelow, who had cycled all the way from the UK, raising money for the fight against malaria (inspiring, though I’ll be less ambitious in my own cycling mileage).
I heard about a number of issues, from the challenges of high unemployment to talk of possible oil finds. Whatever way you look at it – a fascinating time for the country. They’re calling my flight (finally –time really does seem to slow down at airports), so I’ll sign off both the blog (my first, by the way) and from Windhoek for now. To return to both shortly, with great pleasure. In the meantime, I’ll keep you posted about what we’re doing in Cape Town, from celebrating the Diamond Jubilee (firing canons!) and the countdown to the Olympics, to visits by the Foreign Affairs Committee and Lord Marland. Simon Atkinson