EDITORIAL: Diplomacy beyond comradeship
Namibia must harness her diplomatic ties with global giants like China, for in these alliances lies the potential to shape her destiny. However, achieving this demands a profound introspection into how we appoint our foreign representatives. An ambassadorial post in a glittering overseas city is not a reward for loyalty nor a holiday luxury - it is a frontline mission, demanding sharp minds and strategic acumen.
Our diplomats must transcend the nostalgia of historical ties - those days when foreign relations were defined by the exchange of guns and tinned food for our liberation fighters. In the boardrooms of Beijing, the conversation should pivot solely on how Namibia and China can best exploit each other's strengths. History, while a proud cornerstone, must not be an anchor that weighs us down.
The same holds true for our envoys to economic powerhouses like the UK and the USA. In these capitals, only those with a firm grasp of economics, geopolitics, and the fine art of diplomacy should speak for Namibia. We can no longer afford to send tired comrades seeking sinecures to steer our interests in these crucial corridors of power. An ambassadorial role is not a stop-gap job for old friends - it is a formidable national responsibility, intended to yield tangible benefits for our republic.
As a small nation navigating a world of bullfights, where giants flex economic and military muscle, Namibia must fight smarter. We have no Trumpian swagger to twist arms, no arsenal to invade rich territories
It is time we send our best to the world, those who can turn handshakes into harvests and summits into strategies, lest we find ourselves drowned in the global storm.
Our diplomats must transcend the nostalgia of historical ties - those days when foreign relations were defined by the exchange of guns and tinned food for our liberation fighters. In the boardrooms of Beijing, the conversation should pivot solely on how Namibia and China can best exploit each other's strengths. History, while a proud cornerstone, must not be an anchor that weighs us down.
The same holds true for our envoys to economic powerhouses like the UK and the USA. In these capitals, only those with a firm grasp of economics, geopolitics, and the fine art of diplomacy should speak for Namibia. We can no longer afford to send tired comrades seeking sinecures to steer our interests in these crucial corridors of power. An ambassadorial role is not a stop-gap job for old friends - it is a formidable national responsibility, intended to yield tangible benefits for our republic.
As a small nation navigating a world of bullfights, where giants flex economic and military muscle, Namibia must fight smarter. We have no Trumpian swagger to twist arms, no arsenal to invade rich territories
It is time we send our best to the world, those who can turn handshakes into harvests and summits into strategies, lest we find ourselves drowned in the global storm.
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