Hage urges African leaders to take care of their people

President Hage Geingob says if peace is maintained in the region, there would be no need for members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to risk their lives to run to Europe or the United States. He also urged African leaders to “take care of their own” and to be leaders that command respect from their citizens. “One day we must be our own judge. Nobody is condoning any crimes committed by anybody, but they must face it in their own countries,” he said. Geingob also said it was strange that Kenyans elected Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy into power despite knowing that he was charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC). He said it is contradiction of democracy to go against the people’s wishes. “We do not have democratic elections to please anybody. We suffered for it, we went to jail for it, some were killed for us to have it,” said Geingob. Geingob was speaking during a brief meeting with outgoing United Nations Resident Representative, Musinga Bandora, who paid him a courtesy visit on Friday. Geingob criticised advocacy and concerned groups, who called for the imprisonment of Sudan President Omar Al-Bashir earlier this month during the African Union summit in South Africa. He said there are many people today – especially white people - who were around during apartheid, but were quiet and are now just bashing Al-Bashir. Geingob said if people want to criticise the death of people on a president’s watch, they should also consider the deaths in Palestine and Syria, and not just complain about the killing of civilians in Sudan. “When you go to Palestine, are people not dying there? Do you hear calls for the Israeli leader to be taken to ICC? People are now dying more in Iraq, Syria and Libya. “The problems are not solved. Let us have universal application of judgement,” he said. WINDHOEK JEMIMA BEUKES