Comrade (sorry: ex-comrade) Ya Nangoloh opened his mouth just a little bit too wide the other day.  He verbally attacked (threatened) our grand Tatekulu, the founding father of Namibia, Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, with the International Court of Justice.  I can just see Phil, with his tongue in cheek, being very daring and very cheeky indeed.  I doubt whether even Phil who is known for his verbal exuberance, was very serious.
But, man oh man! What a reaction his little statement elicited! One would have thought it was the first of April 1989 all over again, but multiplied by a factor of ten.
Everybody who was somebody and all those who thought they were somebody and even those who everybody knows are just nobodies climbed on the bandwagon and let rip at poor old Phil. Speechwriters everywhere were suddenly totally overwhelmed by the popularity they enjoyed.  It was the best of times. They could once again take out all those hollow phrases of yesteryear they had (at last) reluctantly put away in their bottom drawer and dust them off, polish them, whet them, aim them and fire them.  What a lovely time!
Nostalgia par excellence.
All of a sudden those whose bravery was deeply seated in their vocal chords, could wax lyrically about the imperialist, running-dog of the capitalist, traitorous person who dared to voice such blasphemy.
A perfect example of trying to kill a teeny-weeny mosquito with a nuclear device.
It resounded around the world and even those who had already forgotten about which side they were supposed to be on climbed back on the bandwagon and lambasted Ya Nangoloh.
It makes me wonder what would happen if someone uttered a real, valid threat against our old man. Probably the whole NDF, the police, the Special Protection unit and all those poor, unemployed ex-combatants will march on whoever made any disrespectful utterances.
“Indira Gandhi” will roar once again and this time not aimed towards boer planes.
Well, in the end, I think, everyone got what they wanted: his publicity and the ruffled feathers and the opposite side an opportunity to utter all those threats and dire warnings they had not been able to utter for 17 years.
The more one delves into the issue, the more it becomes clear that nobody is really primarily concerned about the country or its leaders.  No, it’s a jockeying for positions as usual.  Who supports who, etc.
All’s well that ends … and end it should … soon … and quickly!
Pietro the Brave