PAUL T. SHIPALE
Given that Theobald Benjamin Dururo Gurirab, better known as Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, was
born on the 23rd of January 1938 amidst the mysteries of the !Oe #gâb mountain, meandering
east of Okombahe and /Uikrens; the lifeline offered by the #Eseb river that splits /Â/#gomes
in two; the alluring Namib desert landscape, just a stone throw away from Usakos; and the
remarkable dunes and secrets of the Skeleton Coast, in January 2013, I wrote a piece titled;
“Birthday Wishes for Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab”, in which I narrated how the week was full of
significant events to talk about.
Chief among those events was the 50th Anniversary of the Founding of the OAU, the
forerunner to the AU. There was also the World Economic Forum’s in Davos, Switzerland, and
the Second Inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of
America. Most importantly, the 21st January is the birthday of my daughter Paulina Ndamono
Believe and it was the 75th birthday anniversary of Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab on 23rd January.
Coincidentally, Theo-Ben’s mother is called Pauline Guriras, who passed away on 29 August
- This year again, except for the 50th Anniversary of the Founding of the OAU, the same
significant events seems to repeat themselves at this time of the year with the World
Economic Forum’s in Davos, Switzerland, the Second Inauguration of Donald J. Trump, as the
47th President of the United States of America. Most importantly, this is what would have
been the 87th birthday anniversary of Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab.
Matthew Gowaseb, who was very close to the late Gurirab, had the privilege to tell part of
Theo-Ben’s story in the book ‘Theo-Ben Gurirab: World Citizen.” Gowaseb also wrote a piece
that was published in the Namibian newspaper in July 2018 under the headline; “Death of a
Statesman” when the late Dr. Theo-Ben Dururob Gurirab passed on 14 July 2018. On that
occasion, Matthew said, “another name was added to the roll-call of those whom Namibia
and the world will not willingly let die”.
Indeed, the late Gurirab was a venerable statesman, family man, world citizen, and above all
a storyteller of format, who “quietly exchanged the now with the eternal. A place he often
reminisced about”, Gowaseb said.
We all remember how at the late Hidipo Hamutenya’s funeral, Theo-Ben dropped a note and
a pen into Hamutenya’s grave, concealed in the soil. Among other things, Theo-Ben wrote in
the note that they should keep in touch until they meet again ‘on the other side’. “And
indeed, what a great reunion”, Matthew said.
We also remember when on a midday, on a cold and cloudy Saturday of 14 July 2018, the
passing of this immensely gifted soul signalled the end of the era of liberation diplomacy. I
agree with Matthew that the path to Theo-Ben’s grave was strewn with great achievements,
but also paved with immense humility and warmth. Positional power meant nothing to him –
his humanity towering above everything else.
Theo-Ben was immensely dedicated to his craft, as witnessed by his tremendous
achievements. Whether it was the liberation struggle, institutionalising and developing the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, being the Prime Minister, being the Speaker of the National
Assembly, or being the President of the General Assembly, President of the Security Council,
or President of the IPU. He was the sum total of his life.
Theo-Ben was very principled, and he was honest about the things that he believed in. He
had proven himself over the years that he would never put himself in a position where
anyone would question his values, honesty or integrity, Matthew said.
Theo-Ben was, without doubt a venerable statesman. I vividly remember how this stalwart
of the struggle recognised me in public on the occasion of his birthday and said “Shipale,
come here”. This was indeed like a merciful leader catching my tears of the season and
wiping away my fears for a reason unlike other leaders whom I tried to greet in public just to
be left with my hand hanging in the air while they had their hands in the pockets, letting me
to hang dry for no reason that I know of.
Theo-Ben was a man of letters, with immense oratory skills. His writing is simply unmatched,
and he had an unquenchable thirst for reading. He had great charm around him, and an
instinctive style about everything he did. Indeed, everything about Theo-Ben had style.
Great leaders give inspiration and lead. And Theo-Ben was one such. Therefore, a hero is
foremost a servant – not in words, but in deeds. One who is an elected leader wins the right
to serve others. Theo-Ben understood that. True heroes understand that the art of perfect
living is the art of perfect giving, for they search for the virtue in others and themselves for
vices.
Through his daily exchanges and interactions with ordinary men and women, Theo-Ben
personified and epitomised true leadership. Andre September also wrote a piece in the
newspaper titled; “Theo-Ben Gurirab at 80 – a personal reflection” in which he described the
late Dr. Gurirab saying “Over the years, I had this wonderful privilege of witnessing Gurirab as
a consummate diplomat whom I had seen in action, from close-up, as I was asked to
accompany him (as his assistant) to Harare for an Organisation of African Unity (OAU)
meeting”.
This marked the start of a long journey together in the realm of international relations that
will conclude with September serving as a member of Gurirab’s Cabinet during his presidency
of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Before leaving the civil service,
September would still serve as Gurirab’s chief of staff when Theo-Ben became Prime
Minister of Namibia.
September said given his interest in the interaction and synergy between ethics and
international affairs, he spent a lot of time reflecting on what made Gurirab such an
extraordinary diplomat. “Yes, he is a wonderfully kind and generous human being! Yes, he is
a good listener! Yes, he is probably one of the most knowledgeable people around, and not
only in Namibia for that matter! Yes, he can have a way of interacting with people, and that
draws them to him and makes people trust him! Yes, he seems to have perfected a balance
between apparent detachment and gregarious engagement”.
According to September, Gurirab understood very well, knowing that people bring their
whole being, their experiences and insight, their morals and values to diplomacy. It is
because of this tremendous clarity that Gurirab possessed on such a fundamental principle of
governance and decision-making, that he placed a high premium on human relations and
brought his humanity to bear on governance, diplomacy and foreign policy. This is what
made him so effective in the diplomatic space. No wonder, he was never seen getting
flustered, whatever the circumstances.
At home and abroad, September said he had been witness to Gurirab the phenomenal
diplomat and statesman. Even as Prime Minister, people relations and an appreciation of
people’s decision-making processes, came good for him. He always placed human beings,
their humanity and dignity first. No wonder that most if not all of his achievements on the
international stage came about because others pushed for him to be recognised, credited
and acknowledged.
Here, I should give credit to the Founding Father Dr. Sam Nujoma when he appointed, in
1964, Theo-Ben Gurirab, Hage Geingob and Hidipo Hamutenya-later affectionately referred to
as ‘the Troika’-to constitute representation of SWAPO at the UN and throughout the
Americas: North America, Central America and South America. This was at a time when Theo-
Ben arrived at Temple University, Philadelphia in the United States of America, where he had
been granted a scholarship.
In 1972, Geingob was appointed to the UN Secretariat as Political Affairs Officer, a position he
held until 1975 when he was appointed Director of the UN Institute for Namibia (UNIN).
Meanwhile, Theo-Ben Gurirab completed his undergraduate studies in Political Science and
International Relations. Therefore, when Geingob was appointed to the UN Secretariat,
President Nujoma appointed Theo-Ben Gurirab as SWAPO Representative at the UN until
1984 when he became SWAPO Foreign Secretary to replace Peter Mweshihange who had
become SWAPO’s Defence Secretary after the passing of the late Peter Nanyemba in April
- The Founding Father also appointed Theo-Ben as the first Namibian Minister of Foreign
Affairs and later appointed him as the second Namibian Prime Minister and was instrumental
in making sure that Ben Gurirab was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree by the University
of Namibia for his outstanding work as a Diplomat, especially when he could not proceed to
go and study law after he was appointed SWAPO’s Representative at the UN.
I therefore agree with September that most if not all of Theo-Ben Gurirab’s achievements on
the international stage came about because others pushed for him to be recognised, credited
and acknowledged. Indeed, mediocrity is not greatness. Let others recognise you. I am glad
that there is a cohort of Namibian Diplomats trained by Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab and most of
them are following in his footsteps, people such as Ambassador Neville Gertse, Namibia’s
Permanent Representative to the UN, among others.
Indeed, Theo-Ben was a great man, an outstanding citizen of Namibia and the world, and my
mentor. He never put on a mask like a charade in a parade of masquerades where real faces
are just a façade. May I never lose my way, May I never lose his will, May I never lose my
purpose, May I never lose his presence and May His Soul Continue to Rest Peacefully in
Eternity. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of my
employer and this newspaper but solely my personal views as a citizen.
