EDITORIAL: Rest in peace, Gerhard Tötemeyer
Professor Gerhard Tötemeyer, who sadly passed away this week, was one of the first white Namibians to understand humanity beyond its racial confines. Even though he was a descendant of the ethnicity that committed the first genocide of the 20th century in Namibia, he set himself apart from his ancestors' horrific acts to become an exemplary citizen of present-day Namibia.
When it was not fashionable to do so, he preached equality to his fellow white men, and visited Swapo in Zambia to broaden his understanding of the black people’s struggle for independence.
It is no surprise that president Sam Nujoma in 2000 nominated Tötemeyer to parliament and appointed him deputy minister of local government and housing. But perhaps Tötemeyer’s most incredible feat was when he served as the country’s founding director of elections between 1992 and 1998. Because of the fragility of our fledgling democracy at the time, careless handling of elections may have led to civil unrest. Instead, democratic elections were held in Namibia under Tötemeyer, and the results were widely accepted by all political parties.
He understood that, even though his political loyalty was with Swapo, objectivity and professionalism must reign supreme. This, plus his extraordinary academic journey, must inspire many generations. Our loyalty must always be to Namibia first, before political parties and their leaders. Tötemeyer may be gone, but the legacy of his academic and research excellence will live on.
When it was not fashionable to do so, he preached equality to his fellow white men, and visited Swapo in Zambia to broaden his understanding of the black people’s struggle for independence.
It is no surprise that president Sam Nujoma in 2000 nominated Tötemeyer to parliament and appointed him deputy minister of local government and housing. But perhaps Tötemeyer’s most incredible feat was when he served as the country’s founding director of elections between 1992 and 1998. Because of the fragility of our fledgling democracy at the time, careless handling of elections may have led to civil unrest. Instead, democratic elections were held in Namibia under Tötemeyer, and the results were widely accepted by all political parties.
He understood that, even though his political loyalty was with Swapo, objectivity and professionalism must reign supreme. This, plus his extraordinary academic journey, must inspire many generations. Our loyalty must always be to Namibia first, before political parties and their leaders. Tötemeyer may be gone, but the legacy of his academic and research excellence will live on.
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