EDITORIAL: VP position proving crucial
As the past few weeks have proven, the position of state vice-president can no longer be deemed ceremonial. It’s a serious position that can no longer be relegated to attending funerals and cutting ribbons at unwanted functions. Not when the incumbent can become head of state within the blink of an eye.
Prior to the announcement of president Hage Geingob’s illness, the vice-president was largely in obscurity and out of sight. Instead of being genuine partners in governing the country, the VP was more like a compromise appointment.
In 2015, Geingob appointed the country’s maiden VP in the person of Nickey Iyambo, a lovely old man, but who was in the evening of his life. He would die three years later. Until a few weeks ago, this position was like a bone that one throws at a staring dog – to get it off your back.
John Adams, the first person to hold the office of vice-president of the United States, called this job the “most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived”. Adams’ words best captures Namibia’s attitude towards this position so far.
But Geingob’s death has summoned our collective conscience to attach more weight to the VP office. This is no longer a position where we condemn the ‘surplus to requirements’ or where comrades are buried before they are pronounced dead.
The next Namibian president must appoint a capable, young technocrat as VP, with a view that if tragedy strikes again, there is energetic leadership in place.
Prior to the announcement of president Hage Geingob’s illness, the vice-president was largely in obscurity and out of sight. Instead of being genuine partners in governing the country, the VP was more like a compromise appointment.
In 2015, Geingob appointed the country’s maiden VP in the person of Nickey Iyambo, a lovely old man, but who was in the evening of his life. He would die three years later. Until a few weeks ago, this position was like a bone that one throws at a staring dog – to get it off your back.
John Adams, the first person to hold the office of vice-president of the United States, called this job the “most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived”. Adams’ words best captures Namibia’s attitude towards this position so far.
But Geingob’s death has summoned our collective conscience to attach more weight to the VP office. This is no longer a position where we condemn the ‘surplus to requirements’ or where comrades are buried before they are pronounced dead.
The next Namibian president must appoint a capable, young technocrat as VP, with a view that if tragedy strikes again, there is energetic leadership in place.
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Namibian Sun
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