Hidipo Hamutenya is the Minister of Trade and Industry of Namibia and a leading member of the governing party, SWAPO, the South West Africa People's Organisation. After a long liberation struggle, SWAPO led Namibia to independence in 1990, under the legendary guerrilla fighter, Sam Nujoma, who became the country's first president and remains in that post today.
Compared with some of its more high-profile regional neighbours, such as South Africa and Zimbabwe, Namibia has kept pretty low-key on the continental stage, aggressively building up its industries, which traditionally include diamonds and other minerals and are now concentrating on garments for export.
But it cannot be said that Namibia is one of the high-powered continental leaders in Africa. Its voice is not often heard above the din on such issues as the creation of the African Union (AU), the organization, which is set to replace the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The Namibian foreign minister, Theo Ben Gurirab, was a candidate last year to become interim secretary-general of the OAU during the transition to But he he lost out to the Ivorian, Amara Essy.
Neither has much been heard from Namibia on the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), the continent's flagship reconstruction and recovery plan.
Hamutenya has been on a visit to Washington where, in the second part of this interview, allAfrica.com's Charles Cobb Jr. and Ofeibea Quist-Arcton took the opportunity to ask the minister about his country's views on the African Union and Nepad, as well as the role Africa may play in discussions at G8 summit of industrialized nations, to be held in Kananaskis, Canada at the end of this month.
Some people are saying that Africa's needs will be at the center of the discussion at the upcoming G-8 meeting, most prominently Canada's prime minister, who is summit host. Do you think this is likely?
No, I do not believe that they are meeting in Canada because of Africa. It cannot be -- that's not on. But to the extent that they will be making some references, passing references, to Africa, that's fine. Namibia does not really expect much to come out of the G-8 in Canada.
Africans have been busy meeting in Dakar, in Abuja, in Yamoussoukro -- talking about all the Nepad (New Partnership for Africa's Development) preparations and the presentation at the G-8 summit in Canada... Yeah... to be mentioned in passing reference will be worthwhile. Just that?
I think so. We aren't part of the G-8 anyway. They cannot just meet to talk about Africa. I think they have got their own priorities. But, as I said, to the extent that they will mention us, fine, we will be happy. But a few of the G-8 governments, particularly Canada, had made a big deal to the media about the G-8's focus this year on Africa and their concerns and interest in the continent - especially economic growth and development...
Well, I think I have answered you.
What's Namibia's view on Nepad?
Well, we think that it's an interesting proposition.
Interesting?
Yeah, it's an interesting proposition. We hope it will work. We are not 100% sure. We are supportive of Nepad, to the extent of what will be realized in practical terms.
What has been Namibia's contribution to Nepad?.
Support.
Just support?
Moral support. You know how it's designed. There are regional groups. Namibia was not part of the regional groups.
Do you feel left out?
No, it's okay. We are happy that our brothers and colleagues are in. We trust that they will do their job and we hope that they will be able to deliver something at the end of the day. Namibia will benefit to that extent.
Overall What about the Nepad skeptics who say it sounds great on paper, but concretely how is Nepad going to improve the lives of millions of Africans?
Well we are told there are $50 bn available for those who are doing the right things: good governance, investing in their own people, reforming the economies.
But how will you, the African governments, how will you ensure that there is a trickle down to the masses?
Well, I do not want us to think that everything stops, that our country is standing still waiting for what Nepad will deliver. African governments and African business people are busy doing their own thing. Well and good if Nepad can deliver, but if it doesn't deliver, things won't stop. People are busy organizing themselves. And for us in Namibia, we are working very hard to grow our economy.
We believe that we need to continue to fine tune the economic environment to be able to attract both domestic and foreign investment and to be able to achieve a competitive edge where we can identify our own niche, however small, in the global market place and be able to produce and to deliver to the global market. We want to break into the supply of technology. We want to be able to add value to whatever we produce in terms of agro industry, in terms of pricing and adding value to our minerals, in terms of other industries that are independent of whatever raw materials we produce. We want fabrics and garments, yes indeed, and if Nepad began to show signs of practicality, we would be happy to benefit from Nepad.
Perhaps we can turn our attention now to the impending transition from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to the African Union (AU). Minister Hamutenya, what are your views?
Well, the transformation of the OAU is a good idea. The OAU was set up mainly to support the struggle for the liberation of Africa as a whole. That goal has just about been achieved. Now, we have a different struggle and that is the growth and development of the continent. Now, the idea itself is noble. Now it's time to look at the OAU, we must transform it. Now whether that will be the focus, 'm not sure.
Are you on the fringes of this process as well or is Namibia more involved in the whole OAU-AU transformation question?
It's involved. We are involved. But, sometimes I get trepidations when I see heads of state scrambling for these things. And then, after summits they go back and do other things. I'm not so sure how methodic the planning is to re-engineer the OAU and to set an agenda that will make a difference.
Was a one-year transition from the OAU to the AU unrealistic, was it too fast?
Well, on paper it's doable, why not?
But anything is achievable on paper...
Well, I'm not sure now about the substance. Why couldn't the existing OAU just change directions? Why did it require a new continental body, like the African Union, with a changed name?
I assume that those who were there thought that it did not sound new. They wanted the "new" element, to show that we are changing gears, we are refocusing our attention and therefore we are beginning anew. I assume it was part of the consideration and therefore people wanted a change of name.
Critics say the AU has the Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi's fingerprints stamped all over it. Do you consider it unfair that some people think of this as an al-Gaddafi idea?
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But it would be less than honest to deny that he played the key role. He's the one who called together all the African heads-of-state in Libya, in Sirte, more than once. And I think he facilitated the process and probably provided the Rubicon to encourage people to get on board.
Or perhaps he just provided the money?
I wasn't there to see any counting, so I cannot talk about that one. (Laughs).
But it's not a new idea. You go back to 1962 and Kwame Nkrumah and the creation of the OAU. And there is not much change from what the founding fathers were saying and what African leaders are saying now.
I think there was change. We could fairly sit down and define in more concrete terms what Nkrumah wanted to achieve.
A united Africa is what he always said...
Not only, he also wanted the liberation of Namibia and Zimbabwe and Angola and South Africa and that was done.
But ultimately a united Africa that would stand tall in the world...and help continental growth and development.
It's noble isn't it? If we were to achieve it, that would be good, would it not?
Is that possible?
Well, everything's possible, if people put their minds to it. If they put their minds and energy and their shoulders to it, it could be done.
But surely Africa is not united, is it? That's the problem, 40 plus years after independence...
I share that concern. I am very doubtful about the pace at which things are moving on the African continent.
