If you’ll just wait here for the President, Mr President
I’ve mentioned before in these pages about the President’s cavalcade. It is usually about five or six blacked-out limos strong, and is escorted by a phalanx of police cars, sirens blaring, lights flashing. All traffic is stopped to allow them to travel unobstructed, usually at very high speeds. I often wonder if there is really any need for the Prez to be so ostentatious when zooming around the country. Surely if he didn’t draw attention to himself in such a manner, there would be no need for the bodyguards and police escort, and he could reduce his carbon footprint into the bargain. I don’t believe I’ve ever been held up on the M25 while the Queen whizzes past in a giant fleet of Roll Royces*.
Anyway, I don’t know if you know, but in effect Namibia is a country with two presidents. First up we have Namibia’s resident ego Comrade Dr Sam Nujoma, the official Founding Father of the Namibian Nation. He is still leader of the ruling political party, SWAPO, and he likes to use expressions like ‘foreign imperialists’ and ‘subversive elements’ to describe anyone who disagrees with him. He came to the end of his legal presidential term in 2004, and to everyone’s surprise gave way to President Hifikepunya Pohamba, who seems to be doing a pretty fine job.
On Tuesday the pair of them, each with their own cavalcade, clashed on the road from Oshakati. The President’s fleet of cars was forced to pull off the road and wait in the growing queue – something I can bet you has never happened to him before – while Sam Nujoma’s fleet sped by in all its glory. It all seems to have been a bit embarrassing for everyone – if anything can tell you who really has the status in this place, a limo showdown will do it every time.
I just would have liked to have seen it.
*The Queen probably has a helicopter, or a private jet, or her own underground train system, so she doesn’t inconvenience the populace in this inconsiderate fashion. Or so she doesn’t have to ‘travel’ on the M25.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:06 pm
When our Pres or VP travel they have motorcycle escorts that go ahead and close down all the intersections, if they haven’t been closed for hours just waiting. Guess it’s the same everywhere - power has the need to show off.
December 8th, 2006 at 8:15 am
It’s ridiculous is what it is. There must be a better way, surely!