Namibia celebrated its Silver Jubilee this weekend – marking 25 years since it gained its independence from South Africa’s former Apartheid regime. It was a historic and joyous occasion for all Namibians.
This significant birthday event also coincided with the inauguration of the country’s third democratically elected President. This provided an additional reason to celebrate.
I was present at the moving ceremony that marked outgoing (now former) President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s handing over of the mantle of Head of State to incoming President Hage Geingob in the National Stadium on Saturday. It was a privilege to witness such a genuine, good-natured hand over of power from one head of state to another. In fact, it came as no surprise to many when President Pohamba was awarded the Mo Ibrahim Prize for African Leadership earlier this year to mark this smooth transition.
I was joined at the ceremony and other State events by the head of the UK delegation to the inauguration and anniversary celebrations, Lord Popat, Government Whip and Lord-in-Waiting from the House of Lords.
Another keen champion for Africa, having been born in Uganda and a fluent Swahili speaker, Lord Popat was impressed by Namibia’s strong democratic credentials. He was particularly struck by the country’s impressive record on gender empowerment. The recent introduction of gender parity in Namibian political party lists enabled 42% of new members of the National Assembly to be female for the first time; a trail blazer not just for southern Africa but for much of the world.
Lord Popat was able to meet and congratulate Namibia’s government’s highest placed female official, new Prime Minister (and former Finance Minister) Hon Sara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, on the country’s Silver Jubilee and Presidential inauguration on behalf of HM the Queen and the British Government.
Both Lord Popat and the Prime Minister reaffirmed our shared interests and values, as well as the strong ties of friendship, history and partnership that exist between Namibia and the UK. They agreed to seek more ways to build up commercial and trade links between both countries and improve business contacts. The Prime Minister accepted an invitation to come and address the British Business Group on the new government’s priorities once she had had a chance to get her feet under her new desk!
Taking part in these meetings, and all the official and unofficial events over the long weekend, left me feeling incredibly privileged to play a part in the Namibia’s still unfolding development story and the broadening of UK-Namibian links.
The British government supported Namibia’s independence on a number of levels in the early 1990s, including the provision of a special British Military Assistance Team to help integrate the various fighting forces into a unified National Defence Force, and training of Namibian troops to be international peacekeepers. Our security assistance has continued over the intervening decades, with the provision of specialist defence training and, more recently, specialist police training support to introduce modern community policing techniques and ways of tackling gender based violence challenges.
In turn, the Government of Namibia has supported our priority initiatives, including sending the Foreign Minister to attend our Illegal Wildlife Trade conference in London last year and the then SWAPO Chief Whip, and now Speaker, Professor Peter Katjavivi, to attend the Preventing Sexual Violence conference in London.
Commercial and trade links continue to be strong, with major British firms dominant in Namibia’s extractive, financial and marine services, tourism and energy sectors.
We continue to engage in the spirit of partnership on a range of other trade, cultural and education links, and enjoy close ties as proud members of the Commonwealth. Visitor figures between both countries continue to rise each year and a number of gold and silver medals have been handed over to Namibian athletes in major sporting events in the UK in recent times (a gold and a silver at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and two bronzes at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow). Hopes are now high for success at this year’s Rugby World Cup in England.
So I am happy to declare that there will be no dropping the ball as we move forward with strengthening our bilateral relations over the next 25 years.
It just leaves me to say a very heartfelt Happy Birthday to everyone in the Land of the Brave – and the many Namibians living, working and studying in the UK and elsewhere. I look forward to spending my last few months here strengthening our links still further with the new Government and ministers.