Veteran politician Nora Schimming-Chase yesterday told The Namibian on the eve of her 76th birthday that she is proud to be a Namibian.

What is particularly special to her is the way Namibians deal with disagreements, she said at her home in Klein Windhoek. “

“We are not aggressive. The teachers had a strike, and not a single stone was thrown. We did it in a Namibian way,” she said. “If you look at what is happening in South Africa; one thing we as Namibians do is we will go on strike, but not destroy everything.”

As good as an initiative as #feesmustfall might be, and although she also participated in strikes during her student years in the neighbouring country, it is accompanied with so much destructive behaviour, she noted.

Of concern in Namibia, she said, is the manner certain tenders are awarded, and how much power is surrendered to foreigners – at the expense of Namibians.

“I am totally in favour of foreign investment in Namibia, but it does concern me when foreigners receive more shares than Namibians.”

As a mineral and animal-rich country – “given to us by the Universe” – the quest should be to empower Namibians, “but now piece by piece, we are suffering” by creating a more enabling environment for non-Namibians.

...

As a refugee, she committed herself to chasing those away [from Namibia] who had no mercy for Namibians during their struggle for independence, she says tongue-in-cheek. Then, to her surprise, former President Sam Nujoma appointed her as the country's first ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, and she sang a different tune. “I always thought I was the least diplomatic person because I speak my mind,” she reveals her humble side.

Current-day Namibia “is good and bad and not perfect”, she said. Amongst others, the water shortage should have been dealt with long ago, she added. She and others were outspoken about desalination during her time as a diplomat, but it seems those calls are only heeded now.