Former president confident on future

Namibian leader sees sustainable and healthy future for Africa and its China ties

Former Namibian president Hifikepunye Pohamba says he firmly believes that one day, Africa will be self-reliant, rid of the scourge of poverty, illiteracy, disease and war.

But not in his lifetime.

Pohamba was one of the keynote speakers at the fourth China-Africa People's Forum in Yiwu, China, at the end of August.

In a conversation with China Daily, Pohamba said he wanted to point out that he was not speaking on behalf of Namibia.

He served as head of state from March 2005 to March 2015. At the time he left office, his public approval ratings were favorable and he was lauded for his policies on housing, education and gender equality.

He is also a recipient of the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership.

His relationship with the Chinese people runs deep and goes back several decades.

"I have worked with the Chinese for many years, first as a freedom fighter. Today, I am here as a former president of Namibia. Chinese leaders assisted in the liberation of African countries. In the 1970s, Tanzania opened its doors to the Chinese army, who taught Namibians how to fight, and we fought for our freedom."

While almost all of Africa is free from colonial rule, "we are not yet 100 percent liberated", Pohamba says.

"The Sahara is now occupied by an African country," he adds, referring to Morocco's claims over the western Sahara.

Turning to what people-to-people contact has meant for Namibia, Pohamba described China as a friend that has been there times of Namibia's need and "a friend indeed".

"Many roads are being built by the Chinese in Namibia and indeed in other African countries. In Africa, we have the resources but do not have the technology.

"Chinese are not only building roads. In Namibia, they are also mining. On the other hand, there are many Namibian students in China who graduate and return to their country to contribute."

Namibian red meat - mainly beef, but also sheep and goat - famous in southern Africa for its high quality, will be exported to China soon, he says.

China recently announced that it would allow the import of "bone-in" meat products, which means countries exporting meat are not required to debone the meat.

Namibia says it considers this a breakthrough for its local meat producers and its veterinary standards.

Namibia and China had signed a protocol in Beijing on veterinary health conditions and quarantine for the export of Namibian beef to China.

Recently, a new terminal and runway built in northern Namibia by a Chinese company was opened at the second-largest airport in the country.

The construction at Ondangwa Airport cost $6 million and was undertaken by the Qingdao Construction Co, which was awarded the tender in 2013.

Also last month, Namibian President Hage Geingob opened the Ruacana-Omakange road, built by a Chinese company in the northwest of the country.

China Machinery Engineering Corp built the road, funded by the Exim Bank of China.

Asked about what the term "win-win" meant for him, Pohamba traces it back several decades.

"A win-win situation is a term that came about after the liberation of Africa. After the struggle, there was free assistance from China."

Namibia, formerly South West Africa, was first colonized by the Germans and later by South Africa before its independence in 1990.

"At the moment, win-win has taken on different meanings. For example, in our rural areas there are Chinese shops. They sell their goods, get paid for it, and the locals have easier access to products."

Pohamba is confident the China-Africa relationship will flourish.

"I see no stumbling in terms of growth. The relationship between China and Africa is growing. I don't see a disconnect in the relationship."

As for Africa's vision of being an interconnected continent through rail transport and technology by 2063, Pohamba joked that he would in all likelihood not be around to see it realized.

"That's a long way away, 48 years. I won't be around, but maybe you will. Things won't be the same. Africa will be able to produce her own people to run her own systems.

"We (in Africa) are going to make it. Africa is going to defeat ignorance."

Citing the number of Africans dying in the Mediterranean Sea after having fled their countries, Pohamba urged calm heads to prevail.

"So many Africans are dying in the Mediterranean because of wars. If we allow these wars to continue, more and more people will flee and yet more will die.

"We have to work together for peace so we can defeat poverty and ignorance."

While poverty, illiteracy and disease continue to plague parts of Africa, Pohamba says that it should not be forgotten that great strides have been made across the continent.

"Africa has done a lot in the education field. Countries that had no universities previously now boast several, like Tanzania, for instance.

"Hunger and ignorance can only be defeated by education, peace and stability."

For China Daily

(China Daily Africa Weekly 09/05/2015 page7)