Elevating Thabo Mbeki’s concerns

Thabo Mbeki, South Africa’s second president, is not only credited for his intellectual stature and calm demeanour, which characterise the great statesman that he is. Beyond his Afrocentric philosophical clarity and leadership - as exemplified by his African renaissance project - he is credited with registering high levels of economic growth in South Africa after the fall of apartheid in 1994.Mbeki was so concerned with the growth of the South African economy that, to an extent, he neglected politics inside the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), of which he was president.Some argued that the fact that South African retail shops and products spread all over Africa reaching places such as Kongola is partly because of Mbeki’s ingenuity. Because of his preoccupation with the economy, the South African left inside the ANC and its alliances accused him of spending too much time in boardrooms and not with the people. It mobilised against him until it pushed him to resign as president in 2008.The dancing president, Jacob Zuma - perceived as closer to the people - was voted and installed as the country’s third president. The giggling and dancing Zuma was too concerned with politics and neglected the economy. He ended up answering questions on ‘capturing the state’ at a Commission of Inquiry that led to his imprisonment for contempt of court. Like Mbeki, he was forced to resign.Considering the case of South Africa, one wonders what is most important, and what should preoccupy a president, between politics and the economy.Current president, Cyril Ramaphosa, is busy answering questions from the country’s anti-graft body. Some predict a departure similar to that of his predecessors.Mbeki was a towering figure whose leadership was felt beyond South African borders. During his time in office, it was as if he was the president of southern Africa, if not Africa.This political stature has followed him even during his retirement. His inputs and views are still taken seriously in South Africa and beyond. It is possible that both Mbeki and former president Hifikepunye Pohamba can speak at the same event in Namibia but those in attendance may forget whatever will be said by Pohamba. Compared to Mbeki, Pohamba may emerge as a dwarf.Mbeki recently spoke at the memorial service of the late ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte, where he warned of an Arab spring type of uprising and chastised Ramaphosa for his failure to address the country’s economic issues and fulfil the promises he made during his state of the nation address in February. Ramaphosa promised to provide a comprehensive social compact to boost economic growth within 100 days. Mbeki boldly told the audience: “Nothing has happened, nothing... there is no national plan to address these challenges of poverty, unemployment, inequality - it doesn’t exist”.Ramaphosa made an attempt to respond to Mbeki’s remarks while addressing the ANC provincial conference in Kwa-Zulu Natal, but his bureaucratic explanations of slower processes and other bottlenecks were unconvincing. The delegates were hardly interested in his message as they booed him and sang the song ‘wenzeni uZuma’ (what has Zuma done). They took specific resolutions to support Zuma.The sharp and future-oriented observations by Mbeki were widely reported beyond the borders of South Africa. It helps one ask, for the Namibian context, if we have any national plan to address the challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. Does such a comprehensive plan exist?With South Africa experiencing economic shocks, the impact on Namibia is obvious. In the year 2020, South Africa’s exports to Namibia were valued at more than N$30 billion. This country accounts for more than 60% of total imports. This is the context in which Mbeki’s penetrating questions are elevated.Muthoni waKongola is a native of Kongola in the Zambezi Region who is primarily concerned with analysing society and offering ideas for a better Namibia. She is reachable at wakongola@gmail.com or @wakongola on Twitter

Elevating Thabo Mbeki’s concerns

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-13

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Elevating Thabo Mbeki’s concerns

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-13

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