What our children will never know

One thing we will never know or will have difficulty catching up on is the written history of historical events in both colonial and post-colonial Namibia. The primary makers of history in Namibia are reluctant to write down our history.

It is the same for auxiliary makers of history during both periods – those close to primary history makers or witnesses of historical events involving primary history makers.

One would think and believe that there was a Swapo politburo meeting that resolved that there must be a blackout on information about historical events or experiences or that stipulated only a teaspoon amount must be shared.

One finds that this gap is filled by newspapers and soundbite reporting. Faced with the absence of alternatives, these writings become "authoritative".

It makes no difference how loud freedom fighters are on radio call-in shows about incorrect information provided by callers and society; without any writing, regardless of standards, modern society will place little value on their shouting and emotional rantings.

This handicap will surely affect our children and the education system in ways both primary and auxiliary makers of history will realise.

Their own children will have nothing to hold on to in defending their parents' versions, contributions, and legacy.

Frankly speaking, they will be told, in university lecture halls, to provide evidence of their defence or shut their mouths – something that has already begun.

Compare our scandalous situation with neighbouring South Africa, which also experienced apartheid. There is simply no lack of historical writing by both primary and auxiliary makers of history during both periods.

So established is their writing culture that even leaders of the apartheid intelligence, who had reason to bury their heads and remain hidden in dark shadows, have gotten out of their dark and windowless rooms to write books.

Their children go to university halls armed with books written by their parents to discuss and defend their versions, contributions and legacies.

Niël Barnard, former head of South Africa's National Intelligence Service, is one of them. In 2015, he published a book titled "Secret Revolution: Memoirs of a Spy Boss".

His children and ilk are armed with his book, which will remain in libraries and archives for many generations to come. His counterparts in Namibia have only bequeathed songs and slogans. Think of recent events such as state capture and the Steinhoff scandals. These events alone have led to more than 20 books.

There is no president who leaves office in South Africa without a book written about him.

Even those who have worked with presidents find their own paths to writing their books.

In 2014, a secretary of President Nelson Mandela, Zelda La Grange, wrote a book titled "Good Morning, Mr. Mandela", sharing her experiences at the feet of Mandela.

It may be that such a thought has never occurred to Christine //Hoebes, former personal assistant to President Hifikepunye Pohamba, that she can write a book as a key auxiliary history maker. Both her children, and ours, will remain in the dark about this handicap.

The Pohamba era will be left to the newspapers and journalistic reporting that have done a wonderful job of filling the vacuum.

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki came to the late Theo Ben Gurirab to get all the documentation used in the drafting of the Namibian constitution.

Despite the current narratives, Swapo worked with Jonas Savimbi and Unita at some point.

Even during difficult times, Theo Ben Gurirab was sent to go meet with Savimbi.

Most of these details went with Gurirab to his grave and remain in the heads of a few auxiliary makers of history who, in all likelihood, will also leave this earth without documenting anything. Both their children and our children will never know.

Think of the illustrious Hidipo Hamutenya. Children born after 2010 will never know his history and contributions, as very few historical records were created. There is no book on RDP and that rich chapter that went with Hamutenya to his grave.

Auxiliary makers of history who worked with Hamutenya are either scared, unwilling, or unable to write this history. The result is that our children will never know.

Those of us who are older are aware that current vice-president Nangolo Mbumba was tasked with an important historical event: the reintegration of Walvis Bay back into Namibia in 1994.

It may be wishful thinking to expect Mbumba and the auxiliary makers of history to write any book on this chapter.

Important events such as TIPEEG and mass housing will remain events told only by journalists such as Shinovene of The Namibian. He will be the source of history, not the primary or secondary creators. The story of Kasikili Island, which became a Botswana territory to avoid war, will remain a subject of journalistic reporting and on the record of the International Court of Justice.

It doesn’t seem like our son Albert Kawana, who played an important role in this matter, will write any books. In this region, we regard him as responsible for giving our land to Botswana.

Libertine Amadhila, Sam Nujoma, Dirk Mudge, Andrew Niikondo, Gwen Lister, Denga Ndaitwah, and a few others have written some accounts.

Much remains unwritten. Primary and auxiliary makers of history must know that our children (including theirs) will never know because of their inconsideration, inability, and unwillingness to document history.

Muthoni waKongola is a native of Kongola in the Zambezi Region primarily concerned with analysing society and offering ideas for a better Namibia. She is reachable at [email protected] or @wakongola on Twitter.