The Namibia Economist

This Week In The Khuta - KK the villian?

Once again the motormouth and controversial Minister of Youth, National Service, Sports and Culture, Kazenambo Kazenambo torched a storm when he recently called his fellow Cabinet Ministers “stupid Ovambo Ministers” in an interview with a local journalist.
While this is hardly surprising coming from a man with a penchant for name calling ( remember his now infamous “bloody boer” rant late last year), questions have to be asked about the suitability of the Minister to continue holding public office given his love for controversial headlines.
What is rather shocking is the attitude of the Minister towards journalists given the fact that he is a former journalist himself. The not-so-honourable Minister is alleged to have thrown journalist, Tileni Mungodhi and his cameraman out of his office while also confiscating the reporter’s tape recorder which was used during the ill-fated interview. This is  unforgivable behaviour by the Minister who should know how to handle the media.
Obviously one would not want to prescribe to the President how to deal with his “errant” Ministers but what cannot be escaped is that Kazenambo’s behaviour and utterances have made his position in Cabinet or in Parliament very difficult. How is he going to productively work or relate with fellow “stupid Ovambo Ministers” in Cabinet or in Parliament?
His presence in Cabinet or in Parliament will always evoke certain feelings amongst the people or tribe/s that have been at the mercy of the Minister’s verbal diarrhoea. His continued presence in Government will obviously bring tension and as a responsible leader, the best thing that the Minister can do for himself and his party is to resign because honestly, after so many public outbursts in recent months, his position in government has become untenable.
Since his appointment by the President to a full Ministerial post, Kazenambo has been known more for his attacks on either journalists, his constituency (the youth) and now his cabinet colleagues than for his successes at his Ministry. History will judge him harshly and record that he was one of the least popular Ministers in post independent Namibia.
As a public official, Kazenambo should know better how to react or talk in public even when provoked. With his uncalled for utterances, the Minister is flaming already fragile tribal relationships in this country. Twenty one years into independence, he represents the sort of leaders that Namibia doesn’t want. What the country needs now are leaders who continue to promote peace and unity amongst the many different tribes in the country.
But obviously the “firebrand” Minister will defend himself and say he is someone who loves to do his job but is misunderstood by a lot of people. Whether that is the case or not, Kazenambo needs to start learning the art of diplomacy and behave like a responsible public figure, otherwise the jury will always be out on his suitability to hold public office.

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