Hengari ‘unmoved, unshaken’

Member of parliament Inna Hengari, who was granted bail of N$5 000 on Friday following her arrest on Independence Day during youth unemployment protests, says she will continue to unapologetically stand with the people who elected her.

The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) politician spent three nights in police custody after participating in a peaceful but unauthorised demonstration attended by scores of unemployed youths in Katutura.

She was arrested together with another opposition figure, Michael Amushelelo of the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF), and social justice activist Dimbulukeni Nauyoma, co-founder of the Affirmative Repositioning movement.

Half of youth affected

Hengari, who at the age of 27 is one of the youngest members of parliament, said her arrest will only serve to harden her resolve to stand up more for the youth, particularly those without jobs.

Unemployment has reached a tipping point in Namibia, with youth unemployment predicted to be at 50% right now. President Hage Geingob, during his recent State of the Nation Address, stopped short of declaring a state of emergency over unemployment but startlingly stated that hordes of frustrated unemployed youth may turn to "terrorism" for survival.

He said he was not keen on declaring youth unemployment a crisis because crisis management is a "huge task".

On the day of Hengari's arrest, Geingob, in his Independence Day message, again underlined that independence without economic prosperity poses a threat to both peace and security.

Disrupters not welcome

Speaking to Namibian Sun yesterday, Hengari said: "I remain unshaken and unmoved."

She warned: "Protests will continue as long as unemployment persists, and they can arrest me a hundred more times if they so wish. I’ll do everything in my power and use every resource at my disposal to ensure that Dimbulukeni and Michael are also released."

Speaking on The Agenda last night, Geingob’s press secretary, Dr Alfredo Hengari, said the PDM member of parliament had no business protesting on the streets.

"The place of a member of parliament is... the pulpit of a member of parliament is that legislative chamber. They shouldn’t be picketing and causing disruption on the streets."

Elitist views

Inna Hengari hit back at this, saying the press secretary was out of touch with the situation on the ground, hence his "elitist" view.

"Unlike me, no one elected him. He must continue to work for Hage. He is paid to protect the shameful legacy of Hage Geingob, such as these levels of unemployment."

She said: "It is an elitist view that MPs should remain in air-conditioned offices and boardrooms while people on the ground are suffering.

"I went to stand with the very people that I represent in parliament. Their situation is real; it’s not a telenovela. I’d rather be arrested a hundred more times by standing with the people."

Burden upon burden

Hengari says the unemployment crisis affects not only those without jobs but also those they depend on to survive.

"Black tax is a direct result of the current situation. Those that are employed are now catering for the unemployed, and this is putting burdens on families and on the overall well-being of our society."

Analysts last week attributed the arrests of Hengari, Amushelelo and Nauyoma to declining civil liberties in the country.

Hengari yesterday concurred with this observation, saying "these orders are from big men of politics.

"There’s a decline in fundamental freedoms like free speech. Security forces are being unleashed on unarmed youth."

This is Amushelelo’s fourth arrest this year – all of them emanating from labour-related protests.

He and Nauyoma spent three months in jail last year after a similar arrest, following threats to close down Chinatown.